PROTEST OVER CONTRACT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 January 1929, Page 5

PROTEST OVER CONTRACT.

PURCHASE OF ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. (By Telegraph—Press Association ) WELLINGTON, Jan. 23. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. T. M. Wil-ford, stated to-day that he had received a’ number of protests in relation to the contract entered into between the Government and the McKay Artificial Limb Company. He said it' was not actually correct that the Crown was bound to purchase exclusively from the company, for in the contract it was provided that the Crown retained the right to order 15 per cent, of the total annual orders for complete new artificial legs, not including peg legs, direct from the following companies in England J. E. Hangar and Peresti’os. The pi-otests had come too late, as a. three years’ contract with the McKay Company was signed on November 2d and all matters in connection with the contract were completed on that date. He did not take office until December 10 and could not accept responsibility. Ho understood the execution of the contract in November was mei-olv to give legal effect to arrangements made iiy the late Government on September 27-