TENDER FOR A LIFT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2174, 12 June 1914, Page 7

TENDER FOR A LIFT

HEATED DISCUSSION IN CITY COUNCIL. Tho Finance Committee recommended to liio City Council lust niglit that the tender of Messrs. T. ISallingor and Co. for the supply of an electric lift for corporation premises, occupied by Messrs. Reynolds and Co., in Victoria Street'(at a cost of £350 13s. 4d.), should be accepted.. Councillor A. H. Hindniarsh moved as an amendment that Messrs. Anderson's tender, from Christchurch, should bo acrepted, for £362, and pointed out .that the tenants had been promised a new lift as soon as possible. Messrs. Anderson's lift would he installed ten weeks' earlier than that of Messrs. Ballinger'a. Tho presem lifi, was not satisfactory.'

Councillor G. Frost opposed this course, and deprecated sending work to .Christchurch when a-local firm..could do the work at a smaller cost. Councillor Frost mado. a.reference that "a councillor was only concerned by aa much as he could got out of New "Zealand."

. Councillor Hindniarsh asked for an unqualified withdrawal of.the words.

' Altar a boated argument tho words wero withdrawn. Councillor Hiiidmarsh would not const (it to Councillor Frost's lirst withdrawal and remarked on his intention "to dofejul himself if tho chair would not Jo 50. , -

.Tho Mayor (Mr. J. V. Luke): Counoulor Ili/niniarsii, 1 am not going to be intimidated, i am dealing with this. Councillor Krost withdrew tho words unreservedly, and Councillor Hindmareh was spp'.'-ise:l. Other Pdi.ncill.i's opposed the motion, and tlio.Ma.vr-, ii. repiv said that the whole question -esclved itself into putting in a lift to ensMe the tenants (Reynolds' Building) to get a quicker lift. Referring to the question of fenders he said that it was a shame the way tenders were drawn up for the City Council. Invariably no mention of timo was made. Ho was glad he could speak in aji open manner, as he was not associated with any business in the city. He was sorry to sec a desire t) send the work out of tho city. Ho would try in the future to have a specified timo put in in all engineering tenders, so that all firms-should be put on an equal' basis. -- ■ •

The engineer reported as follows:— "That if time will permit, the tender of .Messrs. T. Ballinger and Co. be acr cepted, but that if time is or great iiripcrtanco under the lease which has been entered into, the tender, of Messrs. Anderson, Ltd., for th». supply of a lift for £362 bo-accepted."

On a division heing taken the'voting on tho amendment was equal. The Mayor gave his casting voto against tho amendment, and tho recommendation was carried, accepting Messrs. Ballinger'fi lift. ■ ■ . ■