WOOL PROFITS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 4

WOOL PROFITS.

NOTHING TO CONCEAL.”

MR MASSEY’S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON. March 24

Approached to-day in regard to -Mr Poison’s statement at a meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday regarding certain information connected with arrangements with the Imperial Government to purchase New Zealand wool during the war period. Mr Massey •stated: “So far as this information is condernod, 1 do not think many people realise that tLic information asked for covers in its present state nearly 200 pages of closely typewritten matter. This has all had to he gone through carefully and revised, in the first place by the'bead of the Imperial Supllies Department and afterwards by myself. We have cut out probably 100 pages of extraneous matter, not having any particular bearing on the points at issue and have now got the information into shape. I completed my part of the work only to-day, and 1 have not made up my mind as to whether it should he printed in pamplet form or laid on the table of the House as a Parliamentary paper next session. In the meantime, any responsible man can see it, but it would lye very difficult for the newspapers to take a synopsis of it, as much of the information consists of telegrams passing between New Zealand and London, and a good deal is technical information, which will perhaps not be easily understood, except by those who have bad experience in handling wool. llowever there it is, and the public are welcome to it.

“There is nothing to conceal or keep back. Any delay has been due to my not being able to deal with the matter, owing to the sitting of Par Lament and 1 lie fact that since then Mr Lees, controller of the Imperial Government Supplies Department, lias had to he absent from Wellington for a period of three weeks and 1 myself have been away from the seat of Government iecently for some time on public business.”