The Waipa Post. Printed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1925. A FARCICAL COMMISSION.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1660, 8 September 1925, Page 4

The Waipa Post. Printed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1925. A FARCICAL COMMISSION.

MOST people will agree with the very firm protests made by members of the National and Labour parties against the expense incurred in the recent Lysnar Commission. In the first place, the Labour Party , claims that the Commission was set up for the purpose of whitewashing a certain Minister. Everyone who looked into the position when the Commission was appointed quite expected that the verdiet would be what it was. It was freely stated at the outset that the whole thing was nothing more than a farce, as the order of reference was such that it was practically impossible for the member for Gifeborne to secure a verdict. This so far has cost the country £3500, which amount, according to Mr Coates, was made up as follows: Commissioner’s fees, about £7OO (£8 8s a day, in addition to travelling expenses, which amounted roughly to £200)/ The two other commissioners received approximately £3BO and £412 respectively. Six reporters each received £1 11s 6d per day, plus 4s 6d pe rhour overtime, the estimated expenditure in this direction being £SOO. or a total of £2542. The amount set down in the Agricultural Department’s estimates to meet the Government’s costs in the inquiry was £3500; thus £IO4B still remains to be explained. All those taking part from the departmental point of view have so far been accounted for with the exception of counsel and the accountant, so presumably it is intended that they shall receive the balance. But this expenditure is not all. Mr Lysnar did not ask for the inquiry, and the Government must surely pay his expenses; and it must be remembered that the Meat Board employed Mr M. Myers, K.C. The fees in connection with this, said Mr Coates, will be paid for by the Meat Board, which means presumably that the money will come out of the levy paid by the farmers on the export' of meat. To put it bluntly, the farmers are directly contributing towards the payment for air4nquiry held on behalf of the Minister. The amount is appalling, and a gross waste of public money. The charges made by Mr Lysnar included an attack on the Government in connection with the general question of trusts and combines and the operation of certain of these in New Zealand, but in setting up theCommission the order of reference did not permit of these matters being investigated. However, the Commission did its work, and now that the Minister has been'exonerated the Government is not greatly concerned at the expenditure of a few thousands in the process. The electors of New Zealand are not lively to look upon the matter in the same light, for these commissions, set up as they sometimes are on very slender grounds, are becoming an expensive luxury. The Lysnar farce is a dreadful example of waste of time and money.