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26th August, 1916. Freezing operations therein commenced on the 21st February, 1916, and the first annual general meeting of the company was held on the 26th September, 1916, to receive the first annual report and balance-sheet for the year ending 31st August, 1916. Mr. Lysnar was the first chairman of directors of the company, and has continuously held that office up to the present date. Meat-export Slaughterhouses. The legal definition of this term is dealt with later on. In 1922 and 1923 meat-export slaughterhouse licenses, issued under sections 22 and 25 of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908, and its amendments, were held in respect of the Taruheru works, the Kaiti works, and the Waipaoa works ; and freezing and export of meat operations were then carried on in all three works. Recent Ministries. Later in our report we deal with the actions of a Minister of the Crown. As the good faith of that Minister has been attacked by Mr. Lysnar —both in his letter to the late Prime Minister, referred to in clause (iii) of the order of reference and also during the course of the proceedings, and also as the question as to the issue of certain licenses by certain Ministers of Agriculture has been considered—we set out some details as to the periods of office of the Ministries, and of the Ministers of Agriculture, during the last few years : — The Massey Ministry first took office on the 10th July, 1912. An election took place in the year 1915, and The Massey Ministry was returned to power and held office until the 12th August, 1915. It was then succeeded by — The National Ministry, which held office until the 25th August, 1919. The Massey Ministry succeeded and held office until a short time ago. Ministers oe Agriculture. The late Right Hon. Mr. Massey held the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture in the year 1914. The late Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald succeeded to the office in the year 1915, and continued to hold office until— The Hon. W. Nosworthy assumed office on the 4th September, 1919, and until now has continued to act as Minister of Agriculture. Legislation. " Meat-export slaughterhouse " was defined by section 2 of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908. This definition was amended by section 4of the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Act, 1910, and the definition now reads as follows : " Meat-export slaughterhouse " means a slaughterhouse wherein not less than twenty-five per centum of the stock slaughtered is for export beyond New Zealand." Sections 22 and 25 of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act, 1908, read as follows: — 22. The local authority, with the approval of the Minister, may grant and issue the license if after due inquiry it is satisfied on the following points, that is to say : — (a.) That the applicant is of good character ; (b.) That the requirements of this Act have been duly complied with ; and also (c.) That the situation of the slaughterhouse is not objectionable, and that its construction, equipment, and accommodation are in all respects sufficient. 25. Meat-export slaughterhouses may exist and be registered in any district, and the proprietors thereof may be licensed in respect thereof, notwithstanding the establishment in such district of a registered abattoir or slaughterhouse. After the deliberations, findings, and recommendations of the Meat Export Trade Committee, 1917 (a copy of u this report was put in as Exhibit C, the