Mr. Nash Says Companies Let The Labour Government Down

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 October 1950, Page 5

Mr. Nash Says Companies Let The Labour Government Down

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—The former Minister of finance and present Deputy-Leader ot the Opposition (Mr Nash), discussing estimates for the Works Department in the House of Representatives today, said that it should be known that the previous Government had been badly let down by the three major cement companies in New Zealand. Some three years ago he had been present at an interview with the representatives of those companies who had brought plans to the Government to show where additional quantities of the material could be acquired and how the output could be expanded. He did not know what the companies had done, said Mr Nash. There should

be some statement made by them recarding the situation. The Prime Minister (Mr Holland). They are almost ready lor expanded production now. Mr Nash: Then why have we to import cement? I do not know if we have been played with or not. but are just as badly off for cement now as we were then. He suggested that the Mlnist " should check up on the deputation that he (Mr Nash) referred to. The Minister of Works (Mr Goosman): I know all about it. Mr Nash said that three years ago everything humanly possible to da was done to help the companies. “It looks as though we have been badly let down,” he added.