CEMENT COMMISSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 December 1921, Page 1

CEMENT COMMISSION.

lIEPO.HT HEFOIIE PARLIAMENT. DISCUSSION IN HOUSE. SPKCTAI, TO OUAIIOIAN. WELi.I NGTON, Nov. 30 The report of The Cement Commission occupied the House ibis afternoon. The Minister for Industries and Commerce read the report to the House and explained that it did not uphold ally of the charges made against the Cement Coys and Board of Trade. The Commission held that the agreement under which two companies paid a third coy. to keep its works closed, was not illegal or criminal and did not increase the price of cement and did not prejudice the public interests. The price of cement had not been unreasonably high during the period of die agnement and the Board of Trade had not lailed nl ils duly in any res|K?et.

Tile I.cailcr o! tlie Opposition (Mr VVillord) i ,*l i tried (hat (lie Minister and G.ivemminl hailfjind everything their u„ i, \ . Ti:e( had prepared ,he order ,>■ t.-i.-rem •• •< hfi.-ul , m-suit ing M i Master . vv Ia > made the original • haige-.

Tin v be.! plm-.l In the mile: t.j lef’creli, i.aallei dial ..a- not in llie ehaiges- and -.■ had nhinined a re|.nrt that was built mi si ml. Wity had He Minister ilioughi il o .-<*<■- -a r; in tliideri.lke the define m the Cornel,: Coys. The Judge had loiim! ii impossible to hud for Mr Masters unde, Ihe order ,il reference, lint his refusal to older payment of rusts by tile Member, -hewed what was at the hack of his mind. Mr Masters (Stratford) ~:ii<l that ue

' rl no doubt that Goveriimeiil was pleased with the report. He was equally sure that Cement Companies were pleased with llie report since now they had (ho strength of the Government as (nr as monopolies were eotieeritovl. bn* the Minister ami companies would never make the public believe that it was a right and moral thing lor the cement companies to combine and pay one company 1:15.000 a year to close down its works. People knew that they had tn pay the money. \\ liv had the Ministei directly the matter was mentioned. (alien upjhe position of counsel, defend,!, 1 the < ompanir ■ ' Wli.v was 1,.. st , •olieitoms loi (I of the Cement Companies? Had he been s|H'eking on behalf of meniheis on the (level linient side ol the House inelndiu.r Ministers, wlm held ‘:I25.000 m Cl shares, out of (100,090 shares of the Wilson Cement Company. Emir members and their rehrives held these 12*,,110(1 shares. M r M’as.ey Who are they ?

Mr Masters replied that the members «I ~ held llie shares were Kir Heaton Rhodes 1:3*2,157. Sir Win llenies CloOO. Mr 11. Campbell CSI7. Mr Williams and members of his family COtI.OOO. The Minister was President of the Hoard of Trade, lull he had not shown any solicitude on behalf ol the public of \'e,v Zealand. IDs colleen, had been for the Cement Companies ol which his political friends were such hire -haiehohlers. Mr j.ec - I had no knowleilge of their •Jim n»s.

Mr Masters proceeded to di-cuss, in detail, the evidence placed hcl'nte the Co. amission and lie claimed that his charges had been upheld. ll,m C. J. Parr replied on boliall ol Government. He did not thro" much li„ht on the matter ami when the fpoit was laid on the table, the House I 111 tied to utliei busines-.