Correspondence.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3975, 24 September 1881, Page 3

Correspondence.

Theje columns are open to all correspondence ol puUi intsrest, but we do not hold ourselves rcsnonsible for the opinions o£ writers. Correspondence must in all. -ases be authenticated by the real name and addrebs o! the writer—not necessarily for publication, nut as a guarantee ol good faith. 7

(To tbe .Editor of the ErENiffti Stab.) g l!tj —for a long time I have been convinced of the necessity of soliciting the publicity your paper affords, re my opinions on the Borough and County ■' system of dealing with contracts. Let me " assure you I have the greatest respect for the County Engineer and the Borough Foreman of Works, nor do I wish to raise any question or want of duty that would Jva any way entangle their positions. As I am fully convinced were it not for the petty interference of individual councillors for their immediate or useful friends, the inspectors would carry out the true interpretations of contraots, but bad precedents has been continued, and successful contractors opinions have been adopted in carrying out works quite different to what they tendered for. I do not object to alterations in contracts; but if "they tend to reduce (he quantity or quality of the work, it should also reduce the amount of ' the contract money, and vice versa. It is quite a farce to estimate and obtain the honest value of any contract according to .specified instructions, while those contractors who have beneiitted by past . experience, and know where and when to " safely deviate from the .original design, enabling them not only to profitably complete their contracts, but get the credit of working cheaper than others. I am strongly in favor of public competition, and also of accepting the lowes^ tender, with good sureties, and not'as at present by accepting names either not worth a toss^*:or where sureties are good allow some business connections or personal favor to ignore the inspector, and in some cases without his consent to let them slip and leave the wily contractor open to pursue the same course again. Did contractors and sureties know that the true meaning of their undertakings would be required, there would be less room for the complaints and injustice to. workmen, as at the last County Council meeting.—l am, &c, Pbo Bono Publico.