CARELESS TENDERERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 704, 2 July 1929, Page 11

CARELESS TENDERERS

TRANSPORT BOARD CONTRACTS PLEAS FOR INDULGENCE A large number of irregularities ! has been apparent in tenders received by the Transport Board during the last month. Firms have not carefully followed the Instructions contained in the board’s forms, have forgotten to sign tenders, or have been late in submitting prices. Others have written seeking to amend tenders or ask the indulgence of the board in one wav and another. Mr. K. J. Phelan sg.id that it seemed as though the board was not up to date in its methods or tenderers were not giving attention to instructions. The chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, said it might be that the board was very punctilious, but they had to be very careful in order to be fair. Mr. M. J. Coyle pointed out that most were technical mistakes. To Mr. G. G. Ashley, the chairman said the hoard was placing all its orders with local firms. No direct dealing with overseas firms was being practised. There was really no excuse for careless reading of specifications. Later, when further tenders were under discussion, correspondence was read from one firm which apologised

for delivery of a tender after tenders j had closed. The envelope had been marked by an official of the board “Received 4.5 p.m.” In the ordinary course of events the document would have been five minutes too late, but the tenderer sought consideration because its accountant. being new to Auckland, had found difficulty in locating the board’s office. He had arrived in the Transport Office while four o’clock was striking. Mr. Allum thought the rules should be adhered to and the tender rejected. Mr. A. J. Entrican moved the tender be received, “because the explanation seems satisfactory.” Mr. E. H. Potter thought a dangerous precedent would be created. It should be refused as others had been. The board agreed to allow the tender to go forward.