The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-06
DENIES LAXITY
IN SALES PLAN
FOR n. D. MILL
General Manager Austin AS.
serts That Effort Was
Made To Get Business


Grand Forks, NJ d.. Nov. c.
Charges recently made in Nonparti-
san League papers that Governor r.
A. Nestos, and c. f. Austin, man
ager of the sAate mill and elevator
have either deliberately, or through
neglect, passed up opportunities to
sell the products Of the mill in the
Scandinavian countries of Europe
are declared baseless by Mr.. Aastin.
The mill has established selling
agencies in all of the counties in
question and that over 10000 bar
rels of North Dakota State made
flour have been sold there since Mr..
Austin took charge of the mill and
elevator late in January 1928.
In connection with the selling re-
latons of the mill and elevator with
the Scandinavian nations, and the
charges of the league press in con-
necton Herewith, Mr.. Austin made
the following statement:
Governor Nestos took up the mat
ter Of introducing the mill products
in Norway and other Scandinavian
countries shortly after my. arrival
here in January, 1928, and there was
turned over to me a file of CORES
pondence bearing on the situation. l
FULLY agreed with the governor on
the Importance Of establishing trade
relations with the countries in ques-
ton but on looking over the CORE
suondence which had been submitted
to me found several phases in the
plan for bringing this about as there
outlined which did not appeal to me
Plan Proposed
"The greater part of the CORE
spondence was between the man who
was then publicity agent for the mill
aud u representative of a steamship
line who had headquarters in MINI
eapolis. The plan apparently was
for the brother-in-law of the Mimi
eapolis man, and the publicity agent
Of the mill to undertake the task
of introducing the mill products in
Norway. The nature of the plan
which the three were working out
was indicated by one of the letters
found in the file which read in part
us follows:
Minneapolis, Mimi
Nov. 7, 1922
Dear Mr.. Siljan:
Inclosed please find letter receiv
ed today from my brother-in- law Mr.
Sigurd Hille, of Aktieselskabe'
Bjorn, Bergen, Norway. Mr.. Hille i:
man Of about 40 to as years Of age
is born and raised in Bergen ant
has been connected with the milling
interests there for number O.
years and think he is able to handle
this business very satisfactorily, ant
would be an excellent man for you
i know he can furnish the best O
references.
He has been informed that Ger
tain share of the profit must be di
vided. I rely fully on him, and
do not think that we three shall hav'
misunderstanding.
You note what he says about a tri
here, and shall be glad to hear from
you if your friends are willing t.
pay his expenses connected with tn
trip, provided you cannot come t.
an understanding.
II knew nothing of Mr.. lille o
his qualifications except what wa
told in his brother-inlaw's letters
These hardly seemed to me TO fur
nish sufficient ground for his APP
pointment as Scandinavian agent o
the MILL especially since there wa
no indication that either he or tn
other two men concerned with hin
in the proposed transaction had an,
experience in the flour importing
business. -
Contrary to the statements car
ried in the league press recently
there was no correspondence in tn
file from any official of tn Norwe
gian government charged with tn
purchase of wheat, nor did any o
the letters show any definite plal
for the introduction of the mill pro