War Contractors.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 82, 4 October 1912, Page 4

War Contractors.

The discussion on the Ghristchufch pom-pom recently emphasised that it itno treason tor patriotic inconsistency for Vickers, Maxim and Co. and others to make money by sale of war material to fdreigu Powers. The taunt of "traitor" is reserved for tfaose who honestly and openly criticise defective and tyrannous legislation.

Two recent copies of the London "Times" confirm the little-known and significant fact that armament firms offer remunerative and honorable, but easy, posts to men high in civil anfl military service on retirement or on ti •■ approach of their retiring age,

In this way contractors, who batte on Avar and war panics, benefit by the special knowledge of ex-Government servants, versed in diplomatic secrets. From them they learn who bus to be persuaded, where there ia most chancfe of placing an order, and what is the government idea of prices. The last instance of this is James Dunn, for 37 years directly associated with the constructive department of the Navy, and at one lim© AssistantDirector of Naval Construction at the Admiralty, and then subsequently for 12 years the servant of the Vickers Company. It will be at once Been that the nation is training, and often pensioning skilled guides for private companies, whose trade is mischief-making. It has been truly said that the only person who dreads nought is the contractor, and those in search of a new 'peril" can find a real one in the manufacture of spurious pocket-patriots now under way ia Australia and Ne\i Zealand.