"HONOUR AT STAKE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 37, 13 February 1931, Page 7

"HONOUR AT STAKE."

TENDER NOT IN ORDER?

TYPEWRITERS AT COLLEGE,

AMERICAN VERSUS BRITISH.

On the ground that the honour of a piiblic body was involved, Mr. J. A. C. Allum entered a strong protest yesterday afternoon against the prbposal of the Seddon Memorial Technical College Board to accept a tender not conforming with the specifications. The tender concerned the supply of new typewriters at the college, and Mr. Allum contended that the board was accepting an irregular tender in its desire to receive goods of British manufacture.

Pointing "out .that the conditions of the tender stipulated arrangements for the maintenance of the machines for five years and acceptance of 30 old machines at the college in part ) payment,. Mr. Allum informed the .chairman,. Mr. H. S. W. King, that he refused to be a party to a dishonorable action. Just dealing was essential, and, obviously, the correct procedure would be to call fresh tenders.

Mr. Allum insisted that the' tender approved was completely out,of order, when the chairman asked whether it Was possible to rescind the resolution of acceptance at. the meeting. "If the resoluti6n r is not rescinded to-day," added' Mr. Allum, "I shall give notice of motion now to tnove to- that effect at our next meeting. We have ndt £450 to spfendHnjUdiciously at 'this * juncture. -I would support buying' British goods were the difference in price reasonable." \ Mr. King: But New Zealand cannot face the competition of other countries whose manufactures are' subsidised by their governments: "I am quite sure the American Government does not subsidise its typewriter companies," remarked Mr. Allum. "When it is a question of getting articles for £150, instead of £450, our course is plain." "Mr. Allum says 'Buy British' on the Transport Board, but comfis here saying 'Buy American,'" said another member. Objecting strongly to this remark, Mr. Allum said he was not interested in the issue of the tender. The position simply was that the board's honour was at stake and he definitely declined to consent to paying an excessive price and accepting a tender which was out_ of ofder. There Was no question of breach of contract and the board had before it the proper procedure. A motion to' suspend standing orders in order to deal With the question found no seconder, and Mr. Allum gave [notice of his intention to move the rescinding of resolution at the board's next

meeting.