W. D. LYSNAR.j

67

1.—7.

Dear Sir, — 20 Brandon Street, Wellington, 23rd January, 1917. I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 17th instant. In reply I have to inform you that the allotment to you per s.s. " Port Chalmers " for 5,000 freight carcases was made on a return which reached us from the Department of Imperial Government Supplies prior to the allotment of s.s. " Port Chalmers," which set out that you would have in store on 15th December the equivalent of 5,000 freight carcases in quarters o? beef and wether mutton. Yours faithfully, New Zealand Overseas Shipowners Committee, Jambs Kinulay, Chairman. The Secretary, Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), Gisborne. Office of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies, Norwich Chambers, Dear Sir, — Customhouse Quay, Wellington, N.Z., 20th February, 1917. I am advised by the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners Committee that; the Imperial Government has granted permission for the shipment of lamb in normal quantities, and that accordingly the previous instructions requiring the prior shipment of beef quarters and wether mutton will be qualified to this extent. Yours faithfully, I. 11. Taylor, Assistant Controller. The Secretary, Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), Gisborne. Office of the Department of Imperial Government Supplies, Norwich Chambers, Dear Sir, Customhouse Quay, Wellington, N.Z., 22ml February, 1017. With further reference to my recent circular advising you that the shipment of lamb in normal quantities may now be resumed, I am in receipt of further advice from the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners Committee to the effect that preference should be given to beef and mutton, but that tho balance of any allotment made by that Committee may then be filled with lamb. 1 should be pleased if you would give this instruction your careful attention. Yours faithfully, F. H. T., Assistant Controller. Tho Secretary, Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company (Limited),.Gisborne. Office of the Department of imperial Government Supplies, Norwich Chambers, Dear Sir,— Customhouse Quay, Wellington, N.Z., 30th .March, 1017. 1 have to advise that the following cablegram has been received by the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners Committee from the Australasian Refrigerated Tonnage Committee, London : " Government state important you ship as much Army meat as possible. Give special preference beef, then wether mutton, while not excluding ewe mutton and lamb entirely." I shall be glad if you will arrange your shipments accordingly. These fresh instructions will necessitate an alteration in the form to bo attached to your weekly and monthly meat returns, and 1 shall feci obliged if you will make use of the accompanying supply in future instead of those now in your nossession. Yours faithfully, R. Trickis, Controller. The Secretary, Poverty Bay Sheep-farmers' Freezing Company, Gisborne. Dear Sir, — 20 Brandon Street, Wellington, 24th A]nil, 1917. 1 have to inform you that, the latest instructions from the Imperial authorities are that, while preference of shipment must be given to beef and wether mutton, the balance of any allotment which cannot be so filled can be used for shipment of ewe mutton and lamb. This course has been decided upon by the Imperial authorities to avoid the closing of froozing-works in districts where lambs have to bo dealt with, and beef is unobtainable at this season of the year. Yours faithfully, New Zealand Overseas Shipowners Committee, James Findlay, Chairman. The Secretary, Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company (Limited), Gisborne. Dear Sir, — ■ 20 Brandon Street, Wellington, 20th April, 1917. Frozen Meat Shipments : Referring to this Commitleo's letter of 24th instant, please understand that, in accordance with Imperial Government instructions, frozen meat must bo shipped in the following priority: (I) Beef; (2) wether mutton; (3) ewe mutton and lamb. Yours faithfully, New Zealand Overseas Shipowners Committee, James Findlay, Chairman. The Secretary, Poverty Bay Farmors' Meat Company (Limited), Gisborne. J could also produce statements to prove that the Shipowners Committee and Mr. Triggs have made incorrect statements. 66. Mr. Talbot.] You said that your firm had been forbidden to make certain shipments of meat ? —Yes. 67. Who forbade you?— The chairman of the New Zealand Shipowners Committee, Mr. James Findlay. 68. And at the same time other firms were allowed to ship their meat?— Yes, according to the records. 69. You insinuate that, they were allowed to ship their meat owing to the influence of the trust in some way or other over this Committee? —I believe it is the trust that is doing it, and the same applies to tallow and pelts. 70. They must have some pull or hold over certain freezing companies in order to do that?— That is so. It is owing to the looseness of the New Zealand Committee's control. 71. The Chair man.] The letter from Mr. Findlay reads as follows : —" S.s. ' Port Chalmers ' : I understand that in this steamer you shipped as part of your allotment about 2,200 lambs. As you are aware, Imperial Government instructions call for priority of shipment being given to beef and mutton. I am unable to trace that your company pointed out that you would be unable to till your allotment without the shipment of lambs, and shall be glad,to hear from you in the matter." Then the reply to the Shipowners Committee was: "I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 12th instant re shipment per s.s. ' Port Chalmers.' I am quite aware