“BUY N.Z. GOODS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1076, 13 September 1930, Page 1

“BUY N.Z. GOODS”

INSTRUCTIONS TO STORES CONTROL BOARD PUBLICATION OF TENDERS TIIK SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Friday. Protesting against the nonpublication by the Stores Control Board of tenders received for the supply of materials, Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent Grey Lynn) threatened to divide the House of Representatives today when the estimates of the Industries and Commerce Department were under discussion. The adjournment and an undertaking by the Minister in charge of the department, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, however, dissuaded him from his intention. Mr. Fletcher moved that the vote for the department he reduced by £lO as a protest against the Stores Control Board not publishing tenders, either successful or unsuccessful. He instanced the case of a tender 10 per cent, above that offered by a reputable firm and resulting in a charge of £382 extra upon the public, being accepted by the board. Chambers of Commerce had protested against the system and had asked for publication. Tenders could be published if the officers had nothing to hide, as was officers ha-1 something to hide, as was shown by the example he had’ quoted. Unless the Minister gave an undertaking to see that, publication of the tenders was carried out, Mr. Fletcher would persist in his amendment. The Minister assured Mr. Fletcher that the Stores Control Board had instructions to give preference to aud buy New Zealand goods if possible. Mr. Fletcher: It’s not a question of buying New Zealand goods, but of the publication of tenders. Mr. de la Perrelle said he would look into the subject and the amendment lapsed after Mr. Fletcher had a colloquy with the Minister.