PROTESTING TENDERERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 75, 28 March 1924, Page 6

PROTESTING TENDERERS.

GOVERNMENT STORES CONTRACT. A letter was received by the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce at its meeting on Tuesday, from the Stores Control Board with reference to the question of disclosing names of successful tenderers and accepted prices for the supply of stores to the Government. The conclusion of the board was to the effect that it was inadvisable to disclose prices except in special circumstances. "It is quite clear," the letter stated, "that some suppliers are not prepared to quote their best prices to the Government if such are disclosed to their competitors, and it is considered reasonable to give tenderers this degree of protection. It is submitted that prices quoted are a matter of business between t.'.e seller and the buyer, and that the policy of the board is in conformity with that usually followed by private commercial firms and companies."

The letter further stated that a system of dealing with tenders had been established which precluded the possibility of favouritism or' unfair dealing of any description. The system had not rendered competition less keen, but quite the reverse.