Position of Steel Supplies

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 6

Position of Steel Supplies

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Mar. 3. The position regarding the importation and distribution- of steel supplies in the Dominion was explained by the Minister of Supply. Hon. D. G. Sullivan, when replying to an urgent question on the subject by 'Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino) in liie House. The Minister said that, due to circumstances over which the Government had no control,

73 per cent of the Dominion’s steel imports had to be procured on a basis of government to government purchase to ensure co-ordination of supplies aud to avoid duplication of sizes. The Minister stated that the Government had been placed in a position of having to control the whole of New Zealand’s steel supplies from overseas, and after the matter had been discussed with the Hardwaro Merchants Guild and Ironmasters Association, the hardware merchants guild had decided to form themselves into a non-profit making company which would undertake distribution under the direction of the Minister. This company carried out the work so as to leave no importer in any worse relative position than before. It was incorrect to say Steel Distributors, Ltd., comprised only 24 persons and that hundreds of thousands pounds worth of steel and iron . had been despatched from stock without a proper record. All steel distributed had been duly invoiced by the company.