PROFITEERING IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 59, 3 December 1919, Page 10

PROFITEERING IN FRANCE

AVAR SCANDALS EXPOSED. War profiteers who operate in French Government contracts received some very frank cr'ticism at tho pitting - of tho Chamber of Deputies on September 24. Credits wen-o asked for in respect of the enormously costly munition works con"trncted at Ronnno when M. Albert Thomas was Minister of Munitions. These works were never used. M. Emmanuel Breusse, who is one of tho Chamber's specialists in matters of this kind, elicited the information that, although the works aro to be transformed Into a chemical manufactory, a staff of IfflO workmen and 7<V) clerks wa° bein.7 maintained there in idleness. wb : le IS.fIOO tons of steel had been delivered there for which there is no possible use. Af. Brous«e very naturally asked why this material was not sold.

Other information was obtained wh'ch showed that will I" 1 requ'red to nay tho cost nf the instillation of the Ministry of Munitions at Clnridso's Hotel, in the Champs Elysees. wlr'ch a deputy said ought, to luiv cost the country nothing. It was also stated that carburettors, of wh'eh the cost price was MlO franco, have been inwVr.d tn the A\iation Department at 15 francs, that another lot which eo«t SIS francs to make were invoiced at 3041 francs; and that certain small detached parts'costing 4d. to produce were charged to the Government at 4?. Pd.

M. Bronze reminded the Chamber Hint General (^l"iiv?l 10, the Government Controller, in th« rniort presented hist .Time, st'KinptisM rorlnin contractors as having committed v-vitn.Wn crimes npiinst fchn country. "They deserve to l>c shot," shoutc' on" nniry member. "Instead of which," rctorled another, "voti livo thorn the Legion of Honour." M. Brousse declared that, in view of thefts of tin?kind committed by contractors, lie would refuse to voto n centinio of tho credits demanded.