§ 31. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Works what is the purchase price of the 424 excavators ordered from America for delivery before the end of 1948; who is acting as agent in the matter; and what commission is being paid.
§ Mr. KeyFour hundred and twenty-two excavators in all were ordered from America at a cost of 17.9 million dollars; of these 360 are due for delivery before the end of 1948 and 62 in 1949. The machines were acquired by direct Government purchase.
§ 32. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Works why it was decided to purchase excavators from the United States of America rather than have them built under the control of the C.C.G. in Germany, thereby saving dollars.
§ Mr. KeyThe excavators purchased from the U.S.A. by my Department on behalf of Ministry of Fuel and Power and other Departments were required with the utmost urgency and in substantial numbers. In view of the shortage of fuel and steel there was no possibility of obtaining these excavators from German manufacture in the time.