STOCKS SEIZED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1939, Page 20

STOCKS SEIZED

IRON COMMANDEERED

TAKEN BY PUBLIC WORKS

The commandeer of iron by a Government Department from the store of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Co., Ltd., is referred to in a statement by Mr. W. A. McCracken, chairman of directors, and reported to the Whakatane correspondent of the "New Zealand Herald." Mr. McCracken was answering a statement attributed to Mr. A. G. Hultquist, MP., who claimed that the roofing iron and piping was purchased in the normal way by the Native Department for its own use.

Mr. McCracken said that the iron was taken by the Public Works Department. The factory had obtained a large quantity of iron and piping by judicious buying and a Government inspector came with three large lorries and took it away. The inspector also commandeered iron from Whakatane firms.

"The company's board of directors does not complain about the Government's regulations empowering the Government during the war period to commandeer building materials," added Mr. McCracken, "but the directors do feel that the whole country has been let down by the* Government in the matter of supplies of some essential materials from wreat Britain.

"Instead of having normal supplies in New Zealand coming forward from overseas at the time war was declared, we were desperately short of essentials. The position is even more acute now. In spite of short indent orders being placed many months ago for piping and iron, the company's principals can supply nothing, ribr can they give any indication as to when supplies will be available,'*

between the rows will do much to ensure success.