ARAPUNI WORKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 August 1924, Page 5

ARAPUNI WORKS.

MACHINERY FROM SWEDEN. LOSS OF BRITISH PRESTIGE. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON., Aug. 14. Representatives of the British Manufacturers’ Agents’ Association waited on the Prime Minister (Mr W. F. Massey) and the Minister tor Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) to-day and protested against portion of the contract for the suppH of material for the Arapuni hydro-electnc scheme going to Sweden.

Mr J. H, Scott (president of the association) said that just what the association feared haci happened. The prestige oi British manutacturers had been lost, and the general. effect was going to be more serious than anybody could calculate. Mr Massey: “Our tender is with Armstrong, Whitworth.” Mr Scott: “Yes, that is a splendid smoke screen.” Mr Massey: “There is no smoke screen as far as we are concerned. We are out in the open.” During the discussion it transpired that the value of the work allotted to Sweden i 6 £64,000. In reply, Mr Massey said that New Zealand was to give every possible chance, to British workshops. When the tenders were opened there was some difficulty with regard to machiiies, and part of the machines, of winch the Swedish manufacturers were making a specialty,,-alter exhaustive consideration of the tenders, had crone to Messrs Armstrong, - Whitworth It was impossible to get what they -wanted anywhere eles than from Sweden.