INFORMATION DENIED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 13 October 1938, Page 8

INFORMATION DENIED

IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY , GOVERNMENT’S REASONS CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE VIEW. [Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 12. I Strong dissatisfaction with the re- • fusal of the Minister of Industries to | acquaint the public fully with the reasons why the Government had insisted on taking authority for an iron and steel industry to be conducted as a State enterprise, was expressed at a a meeting to-day of the executive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Nt . Zealand. It was reported that correspondence with the Minister on the subject had been going on for some time but no progress could be made. The view was expressed by the meeting that while the careful survey the Government was making of the ore deposits was to be commended, and while no capital expenditure had been entered into, there was a call liability on the taxpayers of £5,000,000 and the people were entitled to details of the expert reports o.n which the decision to launch such a great State enteprise was based. Conditions on Waterfront. I No progress could be reported on the efforts of the association over some months to have the Government set up a royal commission to inquire into labour conditions on the waterfront. It was advised that a number of requests had been made of the Government to take such action and that the association had kept the Government apprised of the growing body of opinion in favour of such a step. This was typified by resolutions on the part of producers’ organisations and others. It was stated that the latest advice from the Minister of Labour on the subject was that the question “was still receiving- the consideration of the Government.’’ Auditor-General’s Advice. Concern at the fact that the Government was refusing to accept and follow the advice of the Controller and Auditor-General in regaru to the proper allocation or costs in certain public accounts, was expressed by the executive. The Minister of Finance had been written to asking whether the Government intended to remedy the complaint of the Controller and Auditor-General, which had been renewed in that officer’s latest report to Parliament that certain public accounts were actually rendered inaccurate and misleading owing to the unsatisfactory method followed by the Government in allocating exchange costs. The latest advice received from the Minister of Finance was that while the Government fully appreciated and attached importance to the association’s contentions in the matter, no change in the method of treatment of exchange charges was proposed in the meantime.