GERMAN CARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1939, Page 7

GERMAN CARS

ALLEGED STATE PURCHASE DENIED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A report that the Government had purchased from Germany 250 motorcars and, realising that it would be criticised if it used them in Government departments, had exchanged them for English cars was mentioned by the Hon Sir Alfred Ransom (Opposition. Pahiatua) when speaking in the Address-in Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. The report was immediately denied from the Ministerial benches. Sir Alfred said it was understood the Government had purchased from Ger many 250 motor-cars. and, realising that it would be subject to criticism if they were used in Government departments, had exchanged them for English cars. Would the Government give the House some information on that point, he asked. The Minister of Education. Mr Fraser: “That statement by the hon member is incorrect." Sir Alfred: “That may be so, but will some Minister give us a correct statement?" The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan: “The yarn about the motor -cars is bunkum." Sir Alfred said the public had seen from time to time that certain numbers of cases of butter had been sold to Germany. But what guarantee did the Government have that that butter would not be put on the London mar | ket? Germany had done that with! other countries, for what Germany wanted was foreign exchange.