"THOSE PETTY CHARGES"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 961, 2 May 1930, Page 11

"THOSE PETTY CHARGES"

WARD FAMILY’S INTER ESI IN MOTOR-CARS

MINISTER EXPLAINS “There has been a little story whic.ii has been assiduously whispered round the City, and it reflects upon the honour of one who is not here to defend it. I have heard it repeated on several occasions. You all know that the Ward family is interested financially in the Whippet motor-cy, and the story which has been going about is to the effect that the Government has purchased these cars to the extent of £60,000.” Thus the Hon. W. A. Veitch, speaking in support of Mr. Alan Donald at Kohimarama. “I will ignore many of those petty charges which have arisen during this campaign. I feel that I am too experienced now to take notice of such things, and I will consequently ignore them. But as this story reflects upon one who is not here to defend himself, I feel that I should comment upon it,” continued Air. Veitch. In preparing an answer for the rumour, he had telegraphed to Wellington for the following particulars, which concerned the purchases of Government Departments over the past 12 months: Railway Department: 26 British bus chassis (bodies made in New Zealand), 1 Austin car, I 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 Department: 12 Austin cars, 9 Ford cars, 14 Austin small vans, 45 Ford small vans, .5 Whippet small vans, 8 Ford trucks, 4 Guy trucks, 14 Thornycroft trucks. Other departments, including Public Health and Forestry: 50 Austin cars, 18 Ford cars, 1 Morris car, 19 Whippet cars, 7 Ford small vans, 1 Morris truck, 10 Ford trucks, 1 Whippet truck, 1 Thornycroft truck. “This stows that the Whippet constituted a lower percentage of the whole than any other car Durchased.” said Mr. Veitch. Most of the cars used are British and the grsat feature of this table is that if there; is any distinction shown it is certainly against the Whippet. All the cars purchased by the Government are purchased bytender, and the Government is certainly not influenced in the purchase of cars as between one firm and another.” In the issue of The Sun on April 29. Air. A. E. Davy, ex-chairman of the United Political organisation, made a statement in which was included the following: One cannot help asking Mr. Donald if he approves of the engagement of Mr. Vincent Ward at a large salary as a civil servant. Is he satisfied with the appointment of Mr. R. Masters, late chairman of the United Political Organisation, and Mr. C. A. Lonergan. present treasurer of that body, tr> the Transport Board ? Does he approve the Government doing big business with a motor company in which Mr. Vincent Ward and Mr. C. A. Lonergan hold 37.500 and 12,500 £1 shares respectively?