SUGAR COMMISSION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10629, 7 May 1912, Page 5

SUGAR COMMISSION

CABLE NEWS

(Unitfd Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.)

CHAIRMAN WITHDRAWS A STATEMENT CASE REFERRED TO GOVI'RV MENT. t _ ' (Received Last Night, 9.45 o'clock.) SYDNEY, May 0. At ilie sitting of the Sugar Commission the Chairman announced that in view of certain facts which wore published, Mr Knox evidently believed that ho had grounds for the accusation made against the commission Therefore, he (the chairman) withdrew the terms in which he characterised the accusation when he said it was a deliberate lie. Whatever was Mr Knox's belief, however, the charge was baseless.

He then called Mr Knox and other directors of the Sugar Company, but all failed to respond. The Chairman then stated that he would, now leave ithe matter in the hands of the Federal Gove,-n:r.cnt. and adjourned the Commission till Thursday. . Mr Knox forwarded a.letter stating that lie would appear when he had the assurance of the Commission that the statement tendered by him would be received in full as part of lite record of the Commission,, and when > record of the evidence already taken was supplied to him, and time an opportunity given for replying to it. Later, the Chairman of the Com-, pany wrote stating that the absence of himself and his co-directors was to protect them against the treatment the company and the general manager received at the hands of the coir,mission. He was prepared to attend if, after Mr Knox presented the Company's case and had fn opportunity of leplying to the-evidence already taken,, the Commissioners were still of the opinion that a useful purpose would be served. The Hon. W. M. Hughes. AttorneyGeneral, stated that he had given instructions for certain steps to be taken.