“Public Entitled To Know Details Of State Controls”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 12

“Public Entitled To Know Details Of State Controls”

“Many New Zealanders are waiting for the Government to implement it* policy of publishing tenders for Government coi ntracts, but last month the Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) said that difficulties were being encountered, ” says an article in the May issue of “Liberator,” the monthly journal of the Constitutional Society. “There is a long history attached to this business, as early member* of the Constitutional Society will well remember." says the article. “The society took up this matter with Mr Goosman in 1957 when he was Minister of Work* in the former National Government. "The society protested against the results of tenders for Government contracts being treated as secret and the private property of the Government The successful tenderer was usually announced. but profound secrecy surrounded the price “Government spokesmen argued that the lowest tender was not always accepted berause, perhaps, past experience with an individual or rompany had not been happy, ar the quality of the goods

offered was not satisfactory, or a tenderer might not posses adequate plant tn do the work. “The same arguments are being raised again. The Minister is quoted as saying, the Government considered that sometimes certain men were not suitable and to make public the figures would almost be as bad as publically denouncing the man.’ "Consequently, the Government ha* not yet decided how to implement its election plank that the name* of tenderer* and their bids for large Government contracts should “In the opinion of the society this is just a smokess.nfwi a adheres to its previous argument that the results at the tendering should be made public. “The publication of details of each and every tenderer name of the successful tenderer and the price of the contract should be public property, since the public have to pay for tt. “If the Government does

for not doing so and could defend its action If challenged. Tf “A complaining tenderer could be told privately the reason for the decision, sad ££ FSU? JEFE his discredit if the departmental action was soundly “This publication repeal-” its argument of 1057 that it is tn the public interest that the result of tendering tbr Government contracts should be made known. It is a gesture of , fairness and good faith that the final details should be published, and it is a protection for the .department itself if it would public to know what sort of prices are being paid for Government work and s protection against wanton extravagance.” .■ yet how it would be done