REPLY TO RUMOUR

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 7

REPLY TO RUMOUR

GOVEROTENT CAES

MINISTER GIVES FIGURES

(By Teleiraph.) ■ (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. "i In the course of a speech at Kohimarama last night in support, of Mr. W. A. Donald, the United candidate in Parnell, the Minister of Labour-,'•(■ th«. Hon. W. A. Veitch) referred to a MKfti«story that had been assiduously-:whis: p'ercd round the city," which reflected' on the honour of the Prime Minister,-1 Sir Joseph Ward. . ' ' ' ■■ •• ~.;■•; The' rumour was current in Auckland, and Mr. Veitch hadheard it repeated several times, that Whippet motor-cars tp a total value of _& 60,000 had been purchased by the Government from the' firm" with' which ' the-.name'.qf Sir Joseph Ward was associated. :...'\- • "I do not intend' to deal with1 many, of the charges that are ihevttably "circulated during a campaign in ■ which' feeling must necessarily be aroused in the minds of the people; but this refers to: ope who is not here, ;.and ,for ttie. moment is ,not able to ; defesid^hiinself,".said Mr. Vei'tch;. ";: .'•' V v!* 4 The facts- as telegraphed thatvdayfrom 'Wellington were that nineteen Whippet icars had been bought tar.gin-t eral Government Departments, five for the Post and Telegraph Department, and: one for the Public Works Department, the total constituting a lower percentage of the whole than that-of every other type of car purchased., - . British ears predominated in departmental purchases, and the clearost feature of the figures was that if any dis; tinction had, been shown at all it had been shown against' Whippets. ;• .'.'-i .•.'': All cars bought for Government. ; Der partments were ordered by tender, ljjr the Stores Control Board, said the Minister. The .'Government was .certainly not influenced in the purchase of cars as between one firm and another, .arid no advantage or preference had been given to the firm with which;" the name of Sir Joseph Ward was asso-. ciated;" ",■"..,.. ,', ,■■;;.'. ;/ ;;:'-' The Minister said the details;of.ith,« cars purchased by the Government1 ii the last twelve months were' aa follow:— '. ' . .. ■ . .'.:.. Bailway Department.-rSe British' bus chassis (bodies made in New Zealand), 1 Austin car, 1 Canadian !Ford truck. •.. ' .;■'•. '■ ■'~"' ■■-"'; Public Works Department.-^6-Austin cars, 15. Ford cars, 5 Dodge cars, 4 Essex cars, 1 Whippet car, 41 Ford small vans, 2 Morris trucks, 1 Chevrolet truck, 1 Ford truck, 2 Graham trucks. Post and Telegraph I)epartment.-^i2 Austin, cars, 9 Ford ears, 14 Austin small vans, 45- Ford;; small vans, 15 Whippet small vans,. 8 Ford trucks/ .4 Gay .trucks, 14 Thorneycroft trucks.: •, Other Departments, including-, the Public Health and Forestry Departments. —50 Austin cars, 18 Ford: cars, 1 Morris car, 19 Whippet cars, 7 Fold small vans, 1 Morris truck, 10 -Ford trucks, .1 Whippet truck, 1 Thorn^ycroft truck. ' '■•■' • -';..- : :■-': :