close examination of the English and American estimates
of cost showed that the English prices were exorbitant, and, in addition,
the time-limit I had set for the delivery of and setting up the machinery
at Lithgow, namely, eighteen months, could not be guaranteed by the
English firms.

Armed now with full information, I submitted the proposal to the
Government, the Minister for Defence at the time being my old
acquaintance, Mr. Playford, from South Australia.

The Press and the leaders of the Opposition supported the proposal, and
the Government went so far as to approve of inquiries being instituted by
the Defence Department as to the probable cost and other points of
importance. Mr. Playford appointed one of our officers then in England to
co-operate with the High Commissioner for the purpose. I had not deemed
it necessary to inform Mr. Playford of my private inquiries, simply
pointing out to him that in my opinion the factory could be established
at a satisfactory figure.

Probably through lack of sufficient experience, the result of the
inquiries by the officer selected was a report as to cost which
practically damned the proposition. Mr. Playford was annoyed that I had
so insistently expressed my opinion that the cost would not be
prohibitory, and, as he put it in his curt way, he told me I had
practically made a fool of him. I did not allow myself to be put out by
his rudeness, as General Owen had done, but smiled and asked him if the
Government had decided to turn the proposal down definitely. If so I
would be obliged if he could let me have an official minute to that
effect, as I had another course to suggest for his consideration. On
receipt of his minute I requested a further interview with him. My new
proposal was that I was prepared to give up my appointment and establish
the factory myself, provided the Government agreed to take 20,000 rifles
a year for seven years at the price which we were then paying the War
Office, and that at the end of the seven years the Government could take
the concern over at a valuation if they so desired. This offer I put in
writing and I let it be widely known that I had made it.

Mr. Playford was once more annoyed. He could not understand how it could
pay me to throw up my career to undertake a job which his advisers had
reported upon so adversely. If he had been let down by them, my offer
accepted, and I scored a success, what opinion would the public form of
him? In ord