Railway Waggon Purchase

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29956, 18 October 1962, Page 3

Railway Waggon Purchase

Sir,—ln his reply to "Do Unto Others” the Minister of Railways merely said that it was in the interest of New Zealand t 6 accept the Jugoslav tender because of price and to establish reciprocal trade. Can no specific reply be given to the questions asked as to the sum of money saved, and the bal-ance-of-payments position? Surely it is good to encourage public knowledge and therefore an informed public opinion instead of apathy. T.E.A.L. and N.A.C., apart from a few Viscounts, are equipped with foreign aircraft. There have been hints in the press that the R.N.Z.A.F. may be equipped with American planes. When the King and Queen of Thailand were in Wellington it was exceptional to find a British motor-car among the American cars supplied for the use of their entourage. (The Gov. emor-General’s English car was borrowed to transport their Majesties in the North Island). All this seems to me sad, and though no doubt reasons can be given, it must surely help to drive Britain into the European Common Market. —Yours, etc., D. G. H. BUSH. October 10. 1982.

Sir,—The explanation of the Minister of Railways lacks conviction as the Initial press report stated the British suppliers had fulfilled previous contracts for this equipment, and, no doubt, against keen competition at that time. Accordingly, it appears unlikely that there would be any appreciable price increase on this occasion—rather the opposite, in light of the severe competition from low labourcost countries which prevails on world markets today. It is questionable whether Jugoslavia is geared to produce

such capital equipment of the same or better quality, much cheaper than highly industrialised countries; and departmental heads are not vested with the authority to determine what is best for this country. Such is the prerogative of the Government, and it would be interesting to learn if the Cabinet was aware of. and authorised this transaction, recalling the Chechoslovakian glass episode by Mir Holloway under the previous administration. —Yours, etc., DO UNTO OTHERS. October 9, 1962. ‘ IThe Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine) had no comment to make on either letter.]