REPLY CHALLENGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1062, 28 August 1930, Page 8

REPLY CHALLENGED

SUPPLY OF SPRINGS FOR RAILWAYS AN AUSTRALIAN CONTRACT? THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Wed. Doubt was cast upon the reply of the Minister of Railways (the Hon. W. A. Veitch) to a question by Mr. F. Langstone (Labour—Waimarino), in the House today. The question dealt with a supply of 1,000 laminated springs to the Railway Department, and Mr. Langstone Avished to know if it w'ere a fact that an order had been placed with a Sydney firm for springs. The Minister’s statement that no order was placed was challenged, and further investigation was promised by Mr. Veitch. In an urgent question about a fortnight ago, Mr. Langstone asked the Minister, whether the tender of the Pioneer Spring Works, Sydney, had been accepted for 1,000 springs, delivery to be at the rate of 100 a week. Mr. Veitch had replied that it was not so. Subsequently, Mr. Langstoue placed the question on the order paper, so that a printed reply -would be obtained, and this time the Minister repeated his former reply. “As indicated in my reply to a similar question,” he said, “no such tender has been accepted. As previously stated 1,000 of these springs have been ordered from New Zealand firms.”

Mr. Langstone said he had in his possession an order from the superintendent of railway workshops, Mr. E. T. Sidey stating: “Please note that the Pioneer Spring Works tender for 1,000 laminated springs has been accepted. As the order has been placed outside the Dominion, the department is not supplying steel.” Mr. Langstone said either his information was wrong or there had been some unfortunate misunderstanding. ft seemed folly for the Government to preach “Buy New Zealand Goods” and then make purchases outside the Dominion. The House should be taken into the Minister’s confidence and should be informed what was taking place regarding the order given. Possibly there might be two orders—one in New Zealand, and one in Australia. The Minister stated that the information in his answer was supplied by responsible officers of the Department. Now the statement was made that the answer was not correct. If Mr. Langstone would give him the evidence he had, Mr. Veitch said he would have the question thoroughly investigated.