STATE PURCHASES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22792, 17 January 1944, Page 4

STATE PURCHASES

Many Blunders Alleged

AUCKLAND, January 15.

The instance of a bootmaker who had approached the Government for supplies of half-inch brass rivets and had been given one-inch size and told that they would do was quoted at a conference of representatives of the metal trades. Allegations were made that many errors had been made by Government officials in purchasing raw materials which would have been impossible if skilled men had been in charge. “In one line of steel our firm has sufficient supplies for 30 years, while in others our stocks are completely exhausted,” said one member of the conference. “This is a hopeless position for a manufacturer to face, but it is going on every day in one line or another. Tire men responsible for the purchasing can scarcely be blamed, as they have neither the experience nor the training necessary.” “It is hopeless trying to discuss the manufacture of certain articles in New Zealand unless the necessary raw materials are purchased at the cheapest possible prices,” said another member. “This is not being done at present, and some hopeless blunders are being made.” Other members pointed out the difficulty of the Government in setting up machinery for purchasing, and suggested that some of the mistakes might have occurred at the source of supply. It was generally admitted that conditions had improved considerably since the Government first set itself up as a purchaser. A resolution was passed by the conference that an advisory board of manufacturers should act in conjunction with the Government in any purchases of raw materials in an endeavour to reduce or eliminate errors in ordering.