TOWEL PURCHASE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 6

TOWEL PURCHASE

IMPORTERS' CONCERN QUESTIONS TO MINISTER Concern at the action of the Min-•isti-y of Supply in importing large quantities of towels and towelling from America is expressed in a letter which has been forwarded by the Bureau of Importers to the Minister of Supply. The bureau expresses the opinion that the full facts of the purchase should be placed before the country in view of prevailing rumours, which have achieved wide currency, that the deal will involve the Government in a substantial loss and that the loss will be charged to the War Expenses Account.

A comprehensive series of questions concerning the purchase is asked the Minister by the bureau. They desire to know, inter alia, whether the purchase is to be charged to lend-lease or to New Zealand's sterling balances in London, whether a full investigation was made into the stock position in the Dominion before the orders were placed, whether full inquiries were made whether the British Government could release a quantity of towels and towelling sufficient for immediate requirements, and what technical advice was sought from the soft goods trade before the orders were placed. It is pointed out that cabled offers by English manufacturers to the wholesale trade in the Dominion were refused by the New Zealand Government and the orders placed instead in the United States for towels which were very much dearer than those obtainable in Britain.