ELECTRIC STOVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 17

ELECTRIC STOVES.

CONTRACTORS' COMPLAINT.

BOARD'S REPLY TO CRITICS.

A reply to tlic suggestion made at a meeting of electrical contractors in Auckland last week that of 58 men present only 15 had been asked by the Auckland Electric Power Board to submit tenders for the installation of stoves and hot-water plants was made at yesterday's meeting of the board by the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley. Mr. Bartley submitted a list of 49 contractors who had been requested to undertake installations for the board, and he said that of that number 40 had received orders to carry out wiring work. It was true, he added, that a considerable number of contractors were registered, and would no doubt be available if contact could be made with them. As the result of recent comment many of the contractors had called on the board, which had been able to give them work. There were still a number who were not available by telephone and had not been in touch with the board, and therefore they had not received consideration. "The allocation of work presents a difficulty v>n account of the urgency demanded by the purchasers, and our work is also hampered under present conditions, as our organisation has not yet been fully established and in working order," said Mr. Bartley. "We are, however, minimising this difficulty as much as possible by making our own estimates and accepting quotations which coincide with such estimates. There is also the factor that we are endeavouring to place our orders with linns established or working within the districts in which the installations are being carried out. When this becomes difficult we will then have to widen out the scope of our quotations. The position will be greatly improved when our organisation of this department is properly established." The acting-chairman, Mr. S. J. Harbutt, said that the report was brought down to answer the suggestion that the board was not giving contractors a chance to compete for work. Board Within the Law. Mr. •'. Dempsey said that representations were being made implying that the board was doing something that was not altogether within the spirit of the Act, but he thought the board had kept within tlie four corners of it. '"It might be as well to let these hostile gentlemen understand that if this sort of thing continues we will be forced into the position of having to employ our own men to do the work," he added. In reply to a question Mr. Bartley said that the contractors in Auckland were receiving bigger juices than contractors in tin- South [eland.

-Mr. S. I. Crookca observed that some of the remarks that had appeared in the newspapers had not been fa , to the board, every member of which had tried to give all contractors fair play. On more than on.i occasion the lowest tender had not been accepted i>. : work, as they felt that tho man concerned would not get a fair wage if the right material were used. When a contractor had complained to him he had asked if he thought it was the board's duty to scout round for tenders. Mr. Harbutt said the board had not gone one-tenth of the distance in the matter of water heaters and stoves that other boards had gone. Other boards had their own installation staffs. The report was received.