1.-7.

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[R. A. ANDERSON.

75. Have J. G. Ward and Co. never been the owners? —No. Sir Joseph Ward originally built the works, and they were then sold to Nelson Bros. It was from Nelson Bros, that the works passed to their present owners, the Federal Steam Navigation Company. 76. Were J. G. Ward and Co. managing for Nelson Bros, originally? —No; Nelson Bros, had their own manager. When the Federal Company bought the works from Nelson Bros, the manager came over to us when we were appointed agents. 77. After the sale from Nelson Bros, to the Federal Company you were employed as managing agents for the Federal Company? —Yes, for the works —that is so. 78. Your agreement is with the Federal Company ?—Yes. 79. For how long?—No time at all. ■SO. Have you had any correspondence with Birt and Co., of Australia?— Not other than that in reference to accounts. 81. But you have had correspondence?— Yes. 82. Have you noticed the heading of their note-paper in which they state that they are the owners of the Ocean Beach works?— Yes, I have seen that. They advertise themselves also on their note-paper as managing agents for the Federal Company. 83. On their note-paper they advertise themselves as managing agents in Australasia for Armour and Co., do they not? —I have never seen that on their paper. 84. I would not be quite certain about it, but I think it was on a letter produced to the Committee?—l have never seen it stated on any letter-paper that comes to us that, they are agents for Armour's. 85. Who are the owners of the Federal Shipping Company—do you know? —It, is a London company. 86. Are not Birt and Co. very big owners of the Federal Company? —I do not know. 87. Have they not pretty well a controlling interest? —I do not know who holds the shares. The only man in the concern that I have met at all is Mr. Hughes, the chairman of the company. 88. Mr. W. 11. Field,.] Do you freeze only, or are you buyers?—We freeze. 89. You do not buy?—We may buy a few for ourselves, but the quantity is small. The works do not buy, but freeze for farmers or anybody who comes along. 90. Y r ou would be content to confine your operations to freezing purely and simply?— Yes. 91. When you freeze for men supplying large quantities do you allow rebates? —Yes, on the freezing-rates, but they are very small. 92. Can you give us any suggestions as to how to cope with this Meat Trust? —I cannot at the moment suggest any practical way; but there is another matter about which I wished to speak to the Committee :it is about another trust. [Reporting stopped by order of the Chairman.] Witness: I would suggest that no new business in connection with the primary products of this company should be allowed to be established by any foreign concern during the currency of the war, and for, say, twelve months afterwards. 93. Mr, G. ,/. Anderson.] You mean, of course, new foreign business?— Yes. 94. The Chairman.] I want to clear up one matter. When Mr. Pearce was asking you a question or two at the start you replied to him to the effect that as long as you paid interest to the Federal Company they were satisfied. Mr. Pearce took that to mean that you had all the profits of the company, and that you simply paid them interest, on their capital?—No, that is not so. I made it clear to you that we get remuneration, but no share in the profits. What I said was this : that Mr. Hughes was satisfied to leave us a free hand in managing the company if he got his interest and depreciation. Of course, we quite understand that if we cannot make the company pay we would not hold the agency. 95. Mr. Anstey.] Would not the profits of this company be declared in England?—We submit a balance-sheet to the taxing Department here, and we pay taxes as a New Zealand company. We pay on the profits of the works. 96. How do you define the profits on the meat that, goes to London : the profits are made in London?— Our company is not a buying company. Our business is purely a freezing business.

Friday, 19th October, 1917. Right Hon. Sir J. G. Wabd examined. (No. 32.) 1. The Chairman.] The Ocean Beach Freezing-works, near the Bluff, are managed by J. G. Ward and Co. (Limited)?— Yes. 2. Who are the owners of the works? —The Federal Steamship Company of England. It is a purely British Company. 3. We have been told by Mr. Anderson, your managing director, that the Federal Steamship Company's agents in Australasia are Birt and Co. (Limited)? —Yes; they are the attorneys for the Federal Steamship Company. There are no attorneys in New Zealand for either the Federal Company or Birt and Co. 4. When dealing between your company, J. G. Ward and Co., and the Federal Steamship Company, you deal with their attorneys in Australia? —The returns of the working of the Ocean Reach works are sent to them. 5. As attorneys? —Yes; but they do not, take part in the management or control of the works in any respect, or interfere in any way with the management—neither they nor anybody else. The works are under the sole control of J. G. Ward and Co. (Limited), who have no shares and no interest, and never have had, in either the Federal Steamship Company, Ocean Beach Freezing Company, or Birt and Co.; and none of them has any shares or interest in J. G.