Serious charges of irregularity and corrupt practices have boon made at a sitting of the Butter Commission by Mr. Sinclair, an ex-Government agricultural expert, against Mr. J. W. Taverner, the State's present General Agent in London. Evidence was produced by Mr. Sinclair to the effect that a largo consignment of frozen mutton po by Mr. Taverner when Minister of iculture was in an emaciated condition, although it bore the Government proved for export" stamp. Mr. Sinclair Pon in London repeatedly called the attention of the department to the harm these consignments were doing to the rt trade of the State. Urged on by the House, Mr. Bent, the Premier, has cabled Mr. Taverner to return at once, and defend these charges which will be heard before s select committee of members. The terms of Mr. Tavorner's appointment are also coming lin for a good deal of criticism. He was appointed in February Inst at a salary of £1,000 per annum, this sum to include expenses of the office, but the appointment was not agreed to by Par-Tiament. Mr. Taverner's first proceeding on arrival (in London was summarily to Gischarge the two clerks who had been in the office for twenty years, giving them a month's salary in lieu of notice. Their places were filled by two men from the Agricultural Department at Mel bourne who had no experience of the work of the London office, and their travelling expenses were paid by the present Government without consulting Parliament in the matter. It is more than likely that the two displaced mom-bers of the London staff will bring actions for damages against the present adnistration, as they claim that they were subject to the Public Service ro-galatians in common with other State employes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.