A CITY CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 4

A CITY CONTRACT.

FRESH TENDERS TO BE CALLED. A deputation of local iron-masters waited upon tho City Council at its meeting last week to complain that the conditions attaching to tenders for tlio supply of columns required at tho Bell Road Reservoir were unduly harassing. Reporting oil this subject at a meeting of the City Council yesterday tho City Engineer (Mr. W. if. Morton) stated that the design for tho columns was prepared with n view to putting the local tenderers on ns favourable a footing as possible as the council had on mans - occasions expressed a desiro to obtain articles locally manufactured whore possible. The columns were of the simplest form possible and there was nothing unusual concerning their manufacture. Tho specification was that usually adopted for the casting of water jiipes. The whole question wa.s one of difierenco in cost between imported and locally manufactured work. The statements tnado by the deputation which waited upon tho council in regard to stringency of specifications were absurd. The question of melting twice could only refer to the manufacture of tho columns outside of New Zealand. All colonial eastings complied with .this requirement. After touching upon a number of toehiiigal details Mr. Morton added that a proper comparison of the values of tho imported and local articles could only be made when the tenders submitted were to one design. He concluded by remarking that, as it, was stated that some misconception existed concerning tho metal requiring to be twice melted, it, was perhaps advisable to call for frcsb tenders for the work. On the motion ,of the Mayor it was agreed that, fresh tenders should be oalled accordingly. They will be considered at a special mooting of the council to be held,early in Januarv.