THE CEMENT INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1921, Page 5

THE CEMENT INQUIRY.

EVIDENCE BY MR. R. MASTERS, M.P. SPEECH IN PUBLIC’S INTEREST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The cement inquiry was continued today. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., gave evidence. He said “he made his speech in the House in what he believed was the public interest. He made no financial gain as the result; on the contrary, his speech had been made after full consideration. It ha'd been suggested he made the speech after receiving a letter from Wilson’s Portland Cement Company, but this was impossible, as the letter was dated September 27 and was passed on to him by his firm. He did not know when his firm received it, but it was impossible for the letter to have reached him when lie made the speech. The only information he had at the time was that the Wilson Company had circularised its agents stating that his firm would be supplied with Wilson’s cement on precisely the same terms as those agents. It was absurd to suggest that he made the speech out of pique as the result of a letter dated September 27 cancelling that decision. Un May 11 witness’ firm received a letter from the Golden Bay Company asking it to help the company out of the difficulty by taking as much cement as possible, and offering terms. These were such as had never been offered before or sought, and such as the firm did not consider were necessary then. Every concession the company made to the firm w&fc passed on to the subagents if supplied.

Mr. Masters stated he had a discussion with Mr. Luttrell on the question of the closing down of the works. The question of Mr. George Elliott’s name never arose. V\ itness had suggested it was unwise to close down the works, and that very likely the matter would be brought up in Parliament. Public opinion would be very much against closing down. Mr. Luttrell said he “didn’t give a damn for public opinion; he was out for his own interests, and that, after all, public opinion was only a nine days’ wonder.” There was no discussion whatever as to the continuance of Mr. Masters’ agency. Witness naturally concluded that the agency would go on when the works re-opened.