CLOCK TENDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 141, 13 June 1912, Page 2

CLOCK TENDERS.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln answer to Mr. Zsn_n_ fefc. ter re ferry building clock, T respectfully wish to point out the fact for public information, and in justice both to the Harbour Board and Sir W H Bailey and Co, Ltd. that engineers' and-public bodies, in drawing up specifications for turret clocks, don't mention the variation of prices of metals snnply for the reason that it is taken for granted that all firms who specialise in turret clocks will only tender for the bells conditionally on current price of copper and tin. If not, then indeed would they be gambling on the rise or fall of metal market, as he suggests. Bailey-'s have been making turret clocks for home and abroad for over seventy years, and whilst giving a -fixed quotation for the clock mechanism which contains relatively a small proportion of these metals, they always quote on bells subject to current price of copper and tin, as the bells contain practically nothing else but these metals. If they had not done so they would have gambled themselves out of the running for clock making years ago. If copper or tin falls between date of tender and receipt of order, they allow that difference to ens- ( tomer, and it is only fair ami ordinary cc__onsense business that in the event of a sudden rise the customer should give as well as take. I enclose a <_±fc_g from Home giving latest state of copper market, showing same •to be higher than for six years. As regards local competition, the Harbour Board, like other 'business firms, naturally, I suppose, are seeking toest valne for public money, and unless Mr- Ziman has personally -perused all the tenders, I don't see how he can make out a case of not being fair, for the speciffcatioHs gave all tenderers a fair scape to make suggestions of wieat they were prepared to do- A -watch can be bought for -£od, and another for £40, but it would be absurd always to -Tray the lowest-priced one. I would ask, in conclusion, if the local tenderers guaranteed that every part of the work was to be smelted" and cast and manufactured in Auckland, and, if so, why are ther. so many foreign clocks being sold here? —I am, etc., E. H___o_. Late Works Superintendent, _E-__3B_kg=___3eu»J^ d -