RAILWAY CONTRACTS.

Evening Star, Issue 4137, 31 May 1876, Page 3

RAILWAY CONTRACTS.

To (he Editor,. Sib,-rArticles appeared in the ‘Daily Times ’ last week criticising and condemning the action of the Provincial Government ' for sins of omission and commission in respect to the manner in which the supply of certain railway plant has been dealt with. The ‘ Daily Times ’ also contained correspondence expressing {gratification that public attention had been directed to the matter, ; ‘and hinting pretty' plainly that something smacking (strongly Of jobbery wasbeipg;indulged in. The gravamen of the charges are— ’' ; ’ Ist. That numbers have been induced to come to the country, believing that plenty of work would be obtainable in connection with the manufacture of railway plant, Ac. 2nd. That the Provincial Government have failed to take, any proper steps to have the work done here, but instead have sent large orders to Australia and England for plant which ought to have been manufactured in the country. 3rd. That such work as the Government has had done and is having done in the Province, has been handed over to particular firms without public competition, apparently making, the interests of these firms the primary consideration, rather than the .interests of the Province., 4. That it is believed that in one of the favored firms a person holding an important and well paid position in the railway department has a large interest. 5. That it is has become a usual thing forthe Provincial Government to advertise for tenders for doing small jobs worth L 5 to LlO, at the same time giving thousands of pounds’ worth to favored parties without any competition. 6. That after the Press ; had directed attention to the. afore-mentioned matters tenders were called for the building of railway carriages, but to all appearance this was merely adding insult to injury, as the conditions are such as to justify the assertion that these tenders' have been called for the express purpose of throwing dust in the eyes of theT public. 7. This is apparent, as the Government well knows that no one.could undertake the work on the advertised conditions, except the firm which it is said had already got the job of building these identical carriages. 8. That the work was given to that firm before tenders were invited. One of the conditions is that the tenders shall be sent in by the 12th of June, which is too short a time to enable those who might have tendered to ascertain, what arrangements they can make to enable them to do the work. But there is a more ridiculous condition still, viz.: That the carriages shall he delivered on or before the Ist of September. . . Unless in the case of someone fully pre{>ared to go on with the work it is absolutely impossible that it can he dene in the time named,—< It will take the whole time allowed for the job to get a fair starts for anyone to begin *it for the first time. The ■- "whole aspect of ths affair seems toproye the 1 correctness of the report current uptown ' that the firm alluded to had the frork of building the carriages given themi before ! ‘ thetendera asked) for, land that Already the work is begun. \