CEMENT ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1921, Page 3

CEMENT ENQUIRY

AIR AI ASTERS' EVIDENCE. [d y TKLI-X: It A I'll—l'Elt I'UKS.H ASSOCIATION] W ELLINGTON. Nov. J. At the cement inquiry to-day All Masters. M.R. gave evidi'lU't'. He said that he made bis speech in the House in what lie believed was tile public interest. He made no financial gain is Hie result; on the contrary tile speech was made after full consideration. It bad been suggested that lie made tae speech after receiving a letter from Wilson's Portland Cement Company. This was impossible. The letter was dated September 27. and was passed up to him by bis linn, lie did not know when he received it, but it was impossible for till? letter to have roach, 1 him w hen li,< made the .speech. Ihe only information he had at the time was liiat. the Wiisiih Company had circulared its agents staling terms as those agents, ft was absiml. to 'lgest that lie made the speech nut <> r pique as the result of the letter dated September 271 h cancelling that dme. ion. On Afav II witness’s firm re-c.y.

ed a letter from the Golden Bay Com pativ asking it to help it old of a ditficulty by Liking as much cement is possible, ami offering terms. These were such as bad never Ivell offered before or sought and such as the firm (lid not consider were necessary, i’be concession tdie company then made bt the firm was passed on to Hie subagents supplied. Mr Alasters stated that be bad a discussion with Air Luttrell on tlm question of closing down the .vork<. The question of George Elliott’s rime lleVer arose. Witness bad suggest ',l that it was unwise to close down M. ■ works and that very likely the mailer wjiulil lie brought, mi in I’ai'i'iment. I’iililic opinion would he much against tho closing down. Mi Luttrell said that lie didn't give a

damn for public opinion ; lie was for Ins own interests, and that after ail. public opinion was oiily a uin > days’ wonder. There was no dismiss, i M whatever as to the emit iniianee of Masters’ agency. Witness naturally nm. elmleti that ilie ttgelley would go on when the works re-opened. The Solicitor-Genera! has commenced his cross-,'xaiuimition. Dallied Rodgers, a worker of Go ,! : eii liav said that the men iceei.vd tin 1 v a feu (fays' fiotieb of tlm (10-nm. of 1 lie Works. ( Inc sold bis iious" lor Edward Boulton, seeietarv. gave feiigthv evidence regarding Dm | ersoi'.a| operations of the Coy. He recited difficult ies in Ihe way of <ui i essf id i , duel 101 lof e- omul la-t year. !mi ■ • added, "one year was too long to I',-

main closed." The flay Company t'l(•lUitmimd selling in Auckland bv at agreement with the other nmpuniie

u hi, li lie tlmilgiit urn, ol limre mlv m 1a,,,- Io lln-m. Wilimss did not tilin' the iiiei'caie of Ji'is a ton 'ill,iw ml l.y the Beard of Trad,, was .ie-''ified. '' -■ Company’s profit last year was CotlO; ils liability was .£40.61111. Mr Ml Donald, .(eh-aaiman of 1 ie“ Board o! TiUtl' i. emit 'lining his mi!. I'II,S‘, ill rej ]y to questions I Com Die Soli, it,ir Cen,-ml and Al, Myers, fiirtie.-r instance,l t , great shortage m eein.-ul at the time the agreement was am" I at between the companies. The Ibu I U..S praelicdly in the pimilii.tl of i aging (lireeliiis ef the companies, so far as tlieij' inl'orlliatioii was , oili-ei ne,l I In'i e v :ls mil a shadow, ol du 'lit tfn*' ,-ouipanies had played tlm ~in ,- fairly will, |he New Zealamd Gov m'.inieiil and the New Zealand publie. The Roard were oiily , ‘!N|,,""T' l il '’' der (lie Acl to suppress mono; , li-s ',- triinenlal to the public wellin',n Al the time of the agreenmiil the G,,!d"'i Bay Company was in the woist fit,aecial position, and had to be given a price to indiuv them to go o" |'i"idiming, lie disagl I liiat. the agree. 111, -lit lei ween the companies was tl„ rerl r.'i-iiil of trade. Cross-examined by the Snlicitci'- 1 'mi. oral. Mr McDonald. , bairmaii of D - Hoard of Trade, said that the (c.ie..;* shortage was acute as far back as Jnlv 1620. and increased to a crisis in l>,-eenibi-r. 11 remained vel v aeuie in Jaiiuary and lasted unlil Febrnarv m March. 1621. It was no exagger.i' •-i to sav that i-emenl was being , I i-. ti butt'd in Wellington in I'icketsin!. Wanganui and Taranaki w,-iv in a bad position in Marr!i, and in response to urgent- requests, a sliipim-nl of

15(10 tons ttas made to Wanganui. But the order was cancelled heett is, only 50 tons could he paid air. Tie saint* sort of thing occurred all uve, New Zealand anil control was a hoi idled. The only reason for litis was ti.i iiaaneial slump due to the inability of peiijie to get the money needed

Crifc-s-exaniined by Mr Myers, witness said that during the control period. New Zealand cement ttas selling at from £5 to £lO cheaper (ban the imported. The public would tune no r*';lit to complain if maiiufneiurers had based their charges oil the world s

pi ices. liHt they would have eomp'a;ned. The Board of Trade in investigating the cement industry was freely I given (be fullest information by l-lie companies. The Hoard bad not u.eludcd the llilburn ('oiuptiny in its investigations, the chief reasons being that it was not exclusively producing cement. j The Commission adjourned kill Mon day.