BRITAIN’S RAZOR DEAL

Evening Star, Issue 19407, 16 November 1926, Page 2

BRITAIN’S RAZOR DEAL

M.P.’S SHARP COMMENT. LONDON, November 4. Sir Frederick Sykes, M.P., one of the members for Sheffield, expressed himself strongly in an interview with an ‘ Evening Standard ’ representative on the order given to an American firm for the new safety razors to bo issued to the British Army. “The War Office order,” Sir Frederick said, “ calls for an immediate explanation. It is a blow to the British steel industry which comes home to me as a Sheffield member. “Even if British steel and other materials are used, there is a loss to British productivity. “The direct profits of the contract and the indirect profit which arises from spreading standing _ overhead cost will go to American capital, and the British taxpayer, by this means, is called upon to subsidise foreign industry against his own.

“ In my opinion, only the most fundamental difference in cost or quality could justify the Government in placing orders abroad, and only after the most exhaustive examination should any order bo given to a foreign firm. “The present purely departmental view taken in placing contracts does not give this examination. “ I am convinced that an examination of this order from the broad aspect of national advantage would show it to be most ill-advised.”