PUBLIC OPENING OF TENDERS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 7

PUBLIC OPENING OF TENDERS

BUILDERS URGE NEW SYSTEM (New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, March 7. “That the Federation urgently take every possible action to have implemented a system of public opening of tenders in all cases, whether local body. Government, or private, throughout New Zealand,” was a remit unanimously adopted today by the annual conference of the New Zealand Master Builders’ Federation. Moving the remit, Mr C. A. Morse said the obtaining of tender results within a reasonable time was still a problem which caused all builders extreme concern. It applied to all tendering authorities. In numerous cases builders awaited the result of a tender for a considerable time and had to miss tendering for other work. It was realised that there might be difficulties with regard to notification of acceptance of a tender, said Mr Morse, but surely those tenderers who had no chance at all could be notified immediately. Auckland builders felt that the public opening of tenders would solve their difficulty, said Mr Morse. They suggested that advertisements calling for tenders should state that tenders would be opened at closing time and that bona fide tenderers were entitled to be present. Mr L. M Corbett, who seconded the remit, said the Ministry of Works was the worst offender. Mr M. J. Graham (Canterbury) contended that his experiences suggested that an education programme on the handling of tenders and the administration of building projects seemed necessary for local bodies throughout the country.