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Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 7

BUYING DEARER BRITISH GOODS

PURCHASE QUESTIONED “It is not right for this board to administer public funds in such a wav. British goods are already helped by the Government with a preferential tariff and local bodies should not favour them further.” This opinion was expressed by Mr. T. Bloodworth at yesterday’s meeting of the Auckland Electric-Power Board, when the recent decision of the board to place orders with a British firm and a Swiss firm for 1,000 electric time switches or clocks from each firm for use on hot-water systems, came up for discussion. The British clocks were £1 dearer than the Swiss clocks, said Mr. Bloodworth. On an order of 1,000 clocks from the British firm, the board way paying £I,OOO more than was necessary. As the board used 2,000 of the clocks each year, the payment would be a recurring one. The chairman. Mr. W. J. Holdsw ortli. said Mr. Bloodworth did not quite un derstand the position. “The ordering of 1,000 clocks from the British firm does not bind us to any future undertaking,” said Mr. Holdswarth. “I was anxious to be; fair, and had one of each make of clock dismantled, and even to the eyes of laymen the British clocks showed superiority in various parts. We did not want to study the original cost, but the years of service the clocks give. I believe the board has acted very wisely.”