DUMPING GAUDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10002, 20 June 1918, Page 5

DUMPING GAUDS

DIFFICULTIES OF POSITION

NEW ZEALAND REQUIREMENTS

SO FAR MET.

Tho Hou. Arthur M. Myors (Minister in Charge of Munitions and Supplies) stated to a “Times” representative yesterday, in connection with tho matter of dumping bands, that ho had occasion during the past week to cable the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Condon, regarding the prospect of the Dominion's requirements for dumping bands for the 1919 season being luliiiled. A reply, now to hand, indicates that no trouble was anticipated in meeting normal reasonable requirements foV dumping next season’s clip. Mr Myers further stated that he had, as representative of the Government, strongly supported all orders for both dumping bands and studs winch had been submitted to his 1 department for priority certification, and ho had urged upon tho Ministry for Munitions in London the necessity of ensuring the execution of these orders.

Discussing the position generally, the Minister added that, having regard to the demand in thd United Kingdom for mild steel for direct war purposes, it was a matter of general knowledge to those concerned that our requirements could be met only with bands manufactured' from shell discard quality stfeel. In this connection, some time ago exhaustive tests were undertaken at the instigation of tho Ministry for Munitions with bands manufactured from steel of this quality, with, ho understood, satisfactory results.

In conclusion, Mr Myers said that he had no information regarding a remark made by a merchant in a local paper concerning the condemnation of the British Munitions Board in regard to inconsistency of decisions and unnecessary delays. In this connection, the exacting duties the Munitions Board were called upon to discharge under the abnormal prevailing conditions should be borne in mind; and the mere fact that New Zealand's requirements -in regard to dumping bands had been met ~so far, proved conclusively that the Ministry was fully alive to the . essential character of this material to the Dominion. However. if any delays in i securing orders from tho United Kingdom were in evidence, he would be pleased on receipt of particulars to cause an investigation into the matter. >,