SEVERELY CRITICISED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 15 May 1942, Page 6

SEVERELY CRITICISED

AMERICAN COMPANY'S CLAIM Washington, May 8. Mr. John Lewin, Justice Department Attorney, told the Senate Patents Committee to-day that statements made in a full-page advertisement published widely by the General Electric Corporation, following the earlier evidence presented to the committee on alleged monopolistic practices, were either misleading or absolutely false. He referred to one paragraph headed “An inspirational story of American industry.” He said that the documents of General Electric and Carboloy revealed an inspirational story of monopoly and restraint which should inspire law enforcement officers and the committee to make certain that such practices were never repeated. Mr. Lewin derided General Electric's claim of long, arduous negotiations to secure the American rights held by the German Krupp Electric already had independent American rights to manufacture tungsten carbide. and also that artificir/ prices wilfully maintained prior to 1940 had created a drastic scarcity of tungsten carbide in American factories. Mr. Lewin severely criticised the company’s claim that tungsten carbide was difficult to manufacture, and quoted the Carboloy director, Mr. Merrall, as saying in 1931 that the manufacture was about as complicated as that of good grade concrete.