ONE HUNDEED THOUSAND BLEEPEES.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 35, 16 April 1879, Page 2

ONE HUNDEED THOUSAND BLEEPEES.

In compliance with the resolve of the Go» vernment, and the statement made by the Minister of Ptiblic Works a few days since, that po more orders should go out of the Colony, an intimation appears m our advert tising columns that tenders will be accepted for the supply of one hundred thousand slcepei-3 for the Waikato-Thames Railway. According to Mr. Macandhew, since the opportunity has been given the millers and contractors of Manawatu of competing, the sleepers haye neon pouring m right and left, and m view of the quantity now advertised for, it is well to consider upon what conditions they are required. In the past, one of the greatest hardships encountered by tenderers m fulfilling their contracts was the preposterous, vexatious, and unjust ar* rangemerits resorted to m passing the work. In instances where sleepers were required for final delivery m Wellington, it was no uncommon thing to have them passed up the country, passed a second time at Fox ton, only to find, after freight by rail and sea had been incurred, that they would not pass muster m Wellington. That the. condemnation was by no means just, or upon the demerits of the work, was apparent from the fact that frequently the objection was removed, but still the proceeding was so harassipg $hat oontraptora who had been so treated rarely placed themselves m a like predicament, and consequently an idea got abroad that millers could not tender*, whenthe fact was that they would not. We have m our recollection the case of one contractor who, out of a contract for three thousand sleepers, had no less than two thousand thrown upon his hands', thus losing exactly that number of 'one shilling a.nd nin&pences. It is a recognised thing amongst settlerd who supply sleepers that: the moment work is passed on the ground they receive a cheque from the tenderer ; while the latter may, after paying railway and ship freight, beside wharfage dups, be at the mercy of tome whimsical official — although, having run the gauntlet of twQjothers— to have his work condemned. The whole system ia so thoroughly unfair and one-sided that it is a patter of wonder to, us how, tenders upon such conditions 'are ever offered at all. There is no reason why the Government should be m possession, of advantages which no private, firm would dare propose, or that tenderers should be placed at the mercy of any domineering official. The. benefit to be conferred by each is mutual, and while a rigid performance of the contract should be exacted, there is no reason why a tenderer should be compelled to submit to injustice or indignity. In the specifications attached to the tender at present under review there is nothing to indicate where or at w.hat time the inspection is to take place, the advertisement stating that they are to be delivered at Grahamstown, Shortland., Kirikiri, Hikutaia, or Paeroa, at which places, we presume, they are ...to be, stacked for inspection. If upon final delivery at any one of those places their rejection is a matter of possibility, we hold that the condition is one of almost a prohibitory nature, as far. as tenderers are, concerned. With a view of obviating, this difficulty, doing justice to the Government, and protecting the contractor from a gross hardship, we would propose tha,t the tenders should be called for delivery at or near the pkpe' where sjeepera are supplied. The Government have ' always some 'official ia the district upon whbin they could place reliance to represent them. 'and to cover the expense of that .first aim 'final inspection, there would be,a material reduction m the, amount • of the tender, inasmuch as the, contractor would bo, saved the move -extended carriage and freight. . Here m this district, for instance, there is Mr. J;.'-T. Stjevaet, m whom the. Government would haye an experienced representative, and we doubt not that other districts would be able, to proyide. equally eligible, officials. For the information of those wishing to contract for tho supply of, the hundred thousand now required, or any part of it, we may state that the least number, to he. tendered fpr is five thousand ; I}wo years being allowed as the time for completion of., contract, after the date of. acceptance, of tender, whileone-tenth of the, amount tendered for must be delivered during the first six months, a^nd onetwenjtieth every succeeding month.