M.P.'s CORRECTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 77, 20 October 1939, Page 4

M.P.'s CORRECTION

Sir— I feel that it is only fair to the Government and to the Directors of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company Limited, that the full facts should be known in regard to a statement which-appeared in the "Beacon" on Monday the 16th instant. The statement appeared under the heading "Contradictory, Government Policy Assailed" '"Goods Seized" and. was made at a meeting of the Farm-' ers' Union on Thursday last week and reads as follows:— Goods Seized Mr Lambert said the Rangitaiki Dairy Factory by judicious buying had obtained a large quantity of iron and piping. A Government Inspector came along with three big lorries and took the iron away. They had commandeered iron from "VVhakatane firms. TVie following is the true pcft®on of the transaction mentioned: w The material, iron and piping were normal purchases made by the Native Department under the following conditions: * ■ ' It was noticed in the Press that there was a shortage of both the commodities and as tlie Department had a number of buildings under way and also water schemes partly installed the Property Supervisor interviewed firms in this town and also the Rangitaiki Factory and ascertained from them the quantity they had on hand they wished to dispose of. There was no mention what ever of commandeering nor did he request any special discount as it was a Government purchase. Each firm supplying the goods wafe paid the price requested by that firm and I can assure you Sir,, that so far as arty of these purchases were concerned the Property Supervisor was not instructed by the Government to make them and it is very doubtful if either the Government or the Directors of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company Limited were actually aware of the purchases being made. I forward you this letter as I consider statements made by Mr Lambert should be denied. Yours etc., (Sgd) A. G. HULTQUIST, M.P.