CULPABLE STUPIDITY, OR WILFUL OBSTINACY.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 51, 25 June 1879, Page 2

CULPABLE STUPIDITY, OR WILFUL OBSTINACY.

lf-& have repeatedly dilated upon the wilful obatinacy, of the Public "Workt Department with regard to the various tenders called for the service, and pointed out that the restrictions placed upcnthe respective contracts for sleepers were nothing more or less than a flat ! prohibition against their acceptance. We regret to see that instead of-learn-ing wisdom from the past, the Telegraph Department has followed m the wake of the other b aach of the service, and pursued the same suicidal policy. A. notification has been published setting forth that 5000 telegraph poles are required for the Government, but the condition* of tender, as set forth m the specifications, are of such a natnr* as to deter any mill-owner or contractor from having anything to do with it. One of the condition! is that a preli- . minary examination will be made at the mill by an inspector appointed by the Department, but the Government reserves the right, even after such examination to reject poles on arrival at Wellington, that may not be considered up to the° standard. In the first place a mistake has been made m the Department not taking over delivery at the mill, leaving the after transit to Wellington a matter outside the contract altogether. One would be led to imagine that such a course would be far more preferable, for the reason that having the line running past the place of delivery the Railway Manager could so arrange the carriage of the poles to suit his owu convenience. That such was not, done, we consider a mistake ; but claiming a right of rejection of the poles ■even after arrival m Wellington and inspection m Manawatu the Department has laid itself open to the charge of wilfuly throwing obstacles m the way of the acceptance of the tender. Why, we ask m, the name of common sense, does the Government go to th« farcical "expense of appointing an inspector m i whom they have no confidence— a man j who will give his opinions m. Manawatu only to mislead and to be ignored m Wellington, Why not appoint a thoroughly competent man m the district whose decision would be final, thus saving the contractors from annoyance and. loss, and doing away with the expense of a second official, and until such a course is adopted it is a perfect farce to advertise for tenders. Our reporter happened to be present whtn the conditions of tender, were being examined by one miller m the district, and the moment he came to the obnoxious proviso stated above, he handed the specifications back to the officer m whose care they are, stating that he for one would uot be a tenderer, or submit to be placed a.t such a disadvantage. We would draw; the attention of the General Manager of Telegraph!— from whom the specifications have been received— to these facts, leaving him to judge if the right reserved to itself by the Government is not, to all intents and purposes, a direct prohibition to the acceptance of the tenders.