PURCHASE OF FACTORY?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 282, 12 November 1936, Page 6

PURCHASE OF FACTORY?

Dunedin Rumour Denied By Mr. J. A. Lee (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Nov. 12. For some monthe past reports have been current in Dunedin that Mr. Mark Silverstone’s joinery factory has been purchased by the Government for the purpose of supplying materials for the carrying out of the State’s housing plan. The reports became so persistent as to suggest that they had some foundation in fact, more especially when the circumstantial addition was made that the factory had been sold to the Government for £7OOO. When the rumours were referred to the, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in charge of housing, Mr. J. A. Lee, however, iie issued an unequivocal denial.

An inquiry respecting the matter was received .to-night from Auckland, and when Mr. Silverstone was asked whether any negotiations had taken place between himself and the Government he replied: “I am not making any statement. If you want any information inquire from the Minister.” Mr. Lee was then interviewed and the nature of the reports that have been in circulation was explained to him.

“It is all bunkum,” he said. “There is nothing in it at all. I am beginning to wonder where all these rumours come from and I am thinking of making a collection of them. You can say without any hesitation,” he continued, “that the joinery factory of Mr. Silver stone has never been offered to the Government at any stage. Mr. Silverstone has never even discussed the matter of his factory with me. “When the housing scheme is properly under way we shall require a great deal more joinery than can be supplied by our ov?n factories,” Mr-

Lee added. He went on to say that the Government had a definite plan in regard to its requirements and would only purchase materials of th© highest qual ity and at the cheapest possible price That policy would apply to every phase of th© Government’s housing plan.