PROVINCIALGOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

Southland Times, Issue 1596, 25 June 1872, Page 3

PROVINCIALGOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

| Sib, — I have a grievance, and as I think a i sensible one, which your aid will probably remedy in future. lam interested in obtaining early information of the various public works to be executed, for which tenders are called, and complain that the Provincial Government does not give due publicity to its advertisements, which is unfair to contractors and detrimental to the public purse. For instance, I noticed only by accident last Thursday, an advertisement in the Provincial Gazette calling for tenders for a bridge over the Waihopai river. As the tenders are required to be in Dunedin on the Ist July, and the only mail to be depended on closes this evening, you will see that this does not leave much time to make proper arrangements and calculation. If the advertisement; had appeared in the local papers at the same tiins it was inserted in the Gazette, it might have made a good many pounds' difference in . the price at which a contractor could tender, on account of the stipulation as to the kind of timber required. If the Government confine the advertisement to the Gazette for the sake of economy, it is penny wise and pound foolish. It was by mere accident I saw the Gazette, and there are many more like myself, and the tendering is likely to be limited thereby. Further, I look upon it as unfair, giving Dunedin contractors a great advantage in point of time. I shall be glad if you will dwell on this, and point out to the Government the propriety of advertising all contracts in the local papers, unless it is meant to cut poor Southland off altogether. — I am, &c, Okb Intbbested. 24th June, 1872.