RAW MATERIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 7

RAW MATERIALS.

INCOMPETENCY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. ■ (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, March 20. At to-day's meeting of the Industrial Corporation of New Zealand Mr. C. J. Ward (Wellington) raised the question of "injury to industry through incompetent handling by Government officials of raw materials." He said that during the last two or three years the Imperial Supplies Department had handled £50,000 000 worth of New Zealand produce and there was no disguising the fact that it had caused difficulties in many quarters. He could quote an illustration from Christchurch. The Woolston tnnreries had specialised in the dressing of calf-skins and had provided a large and expensive plant for this purpose. The plant had been brought almost to a standstill owing to a shortage of supplies and skins, while at the same time tin Imperial Supplies Department had sent 25,000 calf-skins to Australia. The tannery had since been able to got some skini from Wellington, but only through information received from an outside source. The Deportment had not assisted the New Zealand firm. An Auckland fum had quoted another grievance. It had wanted to take hides from the Waitara freezing works, and it had been necessary from its point oi view that the hides should be taken month by month, owing to the seasonal variations in quality. But the Department had made conditions that would have involved the firm in the purchase of quantities far beyond its ) equirements. Mr. Ward said he was quite satisfied there was something wrong with the methods of the Department. Where the trouble was he did not know. It might be incompetence, lack of interest or lack of knowledge. He. had learned that the calf-skins shipped to Australia had been improperly spared, with the result that they had arrived "slippy" and consequently had deteriorated in value. There had beeother cases of mismanagement in connection with the official control of prodven The Department was responsible to r.obody but the Prime Minister and i 1 was very difficult for any person intercbtcd to see the Prime Minister. After some discussion the conference agteed to make representations to Mr. Massey by means of a deputation.