DELAYED CONTRACTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 64, 15 March 1919, Page 14

DELAYED CONTRACTS.

LOOAL AGENTS' DILEMMA. (By Telegraph—Prees Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. A deputation representing the British Manufacturers' and Agents' Association interviewed the Minister for Munitions and Supplies to-day in connection with contracts entered into with local bodies in various parts of the Dominion under war conditions. The contracts had been let early in the war for machinery, and the orders were accepted by the firms in England. New Zealand agents were advieed later that, owing to the war conditions the orders could not be filled, permission to manufacture being unobtainable from the British Minister for Munitions. About six months ago permission was granted, but manufacturing firms then advised their New Zealand representatives that prrces would have to be greatly increased, otherwise orders must be cancelled. Now the New Zealand representatives were called upon to carry out the contracts at the original "prices. The Minister replying, said the difficulty presented wae not easy of solution. The arrangements had been made during the war, and the responsibility was on those entering into the contracts to see that they safeguarded themselvee. The question was whether the Government was prepared to take action that would assist in bringing nbout a settlement. He would diseues the matter with the Attorney-General, and subsequently place it before the Cabinet. The Government had considered the question when the legislation of 1917 was framed, but that only affected New Zealand contracts.