Bike secrecy

Press, 13 August 1980, Page 6

Bike secrecy

PA Wellington The Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr AdamsSchneider) has refused to say how many bicycles are made in New Zealand because he says the information is confidential. In Parliament yesterday, Mr G. VV. F. Thompson (Nat, Horowhenua) asked how many bicycles had been made in each of the last three years. The Under-Secretary of Trade and Industry (Mr Allen), replying for Mr Adams-Schneider, who is in Australia, said, “It is not possible to release these figures without breaching the confidentiality with which these figures were given to my department. “Because there are only two major manufacturers, release of the total production figures would re-

veal individual production levels and compromise their confidentiality.” An Opposition member called.out: “Open government.” c ■

Mr Thompson asked if the manufacturers could meet the demand. Mr AHen said the department had not’ been advised of any shortages. ’ liriport licences had been issued in the past to cover temporary shortages, he said. Mr 3. L. Hunt (Lab., New Lynn) asked why the total production figure could not be given. Mr Allen said that if this was done, each: of the two main manufacturers would know how many the other was producing. The department would preserve confidentiality in all circumstances, he said.

Mr Hunt: What a disgrace.