ELECTRIC CRANES.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 52, 2 March 1909, Page 3

ELECTRIC CRANES.

ENGLISH AND GERMAN. At the meeting of the Harbour Board to-day, Mr W. J. Napier moved: "That the resolution passed by the Board on the 16th February, 1909, to the following effect be rescinded —That the tender of Messrs Babcock and Wilcpx, for 12 large cranes be accepted, amount oi tender, £13,460; (2) that the lowest tender and Messrs Babcock and Wilcox's tender be relerred to the engineer and a Customs expert for report." Mr Napier said the reason he moved tba motion was because the resolution was not adopted by a full Board. He considered that where they were, going to depart from a well-settled principle, whatever the reason, they should have a ful Board. The resolution was carried on patriotic and not on business grounds. Some members had declared, however, that the reason of their vote was because English work was better than German, but of that he (Mr. Napier) knew nothing. He trusted the engineer. He held no brief,for German .firms or for Germany, but tbey should not import political feelings into the Board. Tbey bad bad a telegram from Messrs. Babcock and "Wilcox stating that Messrs. J- Chambers and Son were their agents in New Zealand. One of the members of the Board was a director oi J. Chambers and Son, and had inadvertently voted for the resolution. The chairman said that before tbey vote he had asked Mr. Heather if he was pecuniarily interested in J- Chambers and Company, and Mr. Heather bad said be was not. Mr. Keyes seconded the motion. Mr. Heather said his interests in John Chambers and Son were absolutely nil. He was an old school fellow of Mr. Chambers, and when tbe latter was absent he had - asked him to assist. H« (Mr: Heather) simply held the position |of director a* a trustee and bad nc (pecuniary interest in any way. i (Proceeding.)