Causing some surprise, the president of the Commission, Mr. W. Bartley, opposed the original motion, which did not include the clause purchases.
the value of goods to be
"We should be guided by the obligation which we are under to regard the interests of the Municipality as the main consideration," said Mr. Bartley. "I am not satisfied that the external advantages are in any way commensurate with the extra cost to the Municipality. We cannot pretend to be judges of the extent to which industry in the United Kingdom or other parts of the Empire needs protection. The Imperial Government deals with that.
"The Imperial Government could, if it so desired, impose not merely on us but the whole Colony the policy which is contemplated in this motion. It has not done so. I can only assume therefore that though it may be of advantage to certain manufacturers in the United King-@om and the Empire, it is not considered a vital necessity.
If the motion were approved in principle, Mr. Bartley suggested, it Thould apply to contracts of over £600 only.
On two contracts alone this year, the extra expenditure which the motion would entail amounted to £20,- 000.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.