Power-house Contract.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7881, 25 July 1905, Page 2

Power-house Contract.

Some discussion ensued at the Bor-: ougli Council meeting on Monday evening on the following recommendation of the Works Committee : "That, subject to ■ the schedule ot prices being satisfactory, Mr F. M. Grayling's tender of £1063 8s 8d for construction of the power house, in accordance with Mr Mestaycr's plans and specifications, be accepted." The borough engineer reported that he had gone carefully through l-..e prices and quantities in the tender, and found them practically correct. The Mayor explained that, acting on the decision of the Council, a request was wrwarded to Mr Mcstayer to have the builders' arbitration clause added to the conditions Of contract. It was understood tbat this had been done, but at the last moment it was found that the clause was inserted With certain exceptions, to Which the builders objected, and which rendered it ineffective. In view of the fact that the power hou?e had to be erected in time for the Brush Company to start, so as not to give them any hold on the Council for delays, it was necessary, for the Council to go on with the work at once. Although the Council was in sympathy with the builders it could not very well wait any longer for the work to be undertaken. As the tender submitted by Mr Grayling seemed reasonable, the Works Committee recommended its acceptance, subject to the schedule of prices being satisfactory. Cr. Clift said thai though it was resolved by the Council to have the arbitration clause, its wis-hes had been evaded. It was understood thai, the clause was added, but that builders found that the conditions were just as bad at the finish as they, had been previously. He complained that Mr Mestaycr's letter on the subject never came before the Council at all The borough engineer : I sent the otter in myself. It, eeiiainlv came before the Works Committee.' I sent along letter with the arbitration clauses I proposed to put in the conditions.

. Cr. Cliff said that tho arbitration inserted was practically a dead letter. He concluded that ttic Council bad simply heen hoodwinked He moved that the Works Committee's recommendation for the acceptance of the one tender be struck out He would like the letter produW »nd inquiry made into the matter to "cc why the Council's wishes were not Si ven effect to. "" Rl

commendationwa, k ado^ , ed m CCSrC "