CONTRACT WORE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 27, 31 July 1940, Page 14

CONTRACT WORE

IMPORTATION OF STEEL On behalf of the member for Napiei (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) an urgem question was addressed to the Ministei of Customs in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr J. A. Lee (Democratic Labour, Grej Lynn), asking the Minister whethei he would make a statement explaining the position in relation to the importation of steel into the Dominion for the purpose of carrying out contracts which have already been, 01 may be, let for the erection of (a) Government buildings and other public structures, such as bridges; (b) buildings for local bodies; and (c) private buildings, such as shops, offices, houses, and fiats. Replying, Mr. Nash said that when the Minister of Supply was in Australia he made arrangements with the Commonwealth authorities to give preference to steel required for essential needs. With regard to other steel, licences had been issued in the ordinary way to the agents of manufacturers of steel in Australia. The only way he could suggest to expedite matters was for the particular person ordering the steel to make further representations. Mr. Nash said he thought everything had been done in the way of representations to the manufacturers of the steel and the Commonwealth Government with a view to maximum preference being given to orders from New Zealand.