Details of Govt car purchases

Press, 15 October 1976, Page 17

Details of Govt car purchases

PA Wellington The proportion of completely built-up vehicles to be purchased for Government departments this year

(is the lowest for the last three years, said the Minister of Transport (Mr McLachlan). He said that this year the number of built-up units to be purchased is 528 out of 1979 (26.7 per cent), compared with 993 out of 3582 (27.7 per cent) in 1975-76, and 1951 out of 3212 (60.7

per cent) in 1974-75. “There has been some criticism of the fact that a number of built-up Mazda

vehicles are to be purchased.” ihe said. "These total 479 vehicles. I mainly light commercials and light cars. “Government vehicles are purchased by tender, and when tenders are studied a number of factors are considered. including cost, availability, delivery times and economy and suitability. I “In the case of these (Mazda vehicles, a reasonable

Tender price was offered, and (as a result of buying built-up units there has been a (very substantial saving to (Government. I . “Because the contents of tenders are confidential, it is not appropriate to publicly state the exact price of particular vehicles, but the price offered is most advantageous to New Zealand. “When tenders are considered a major factor is to obtain for the taxpayers of New Zealand the best value

for money, which m this case was obtained by buying built-up units, even though this year’s proportion of

them was lower than under the previous Government. “Tenders are considered by • the departmental motor vehicle committee, chaired by an officer of the Ministry of Transport, comprising officers from the Ministry of Transport, Post Office. Treasury and the New Zealand Forest Service. The committee’s recommendations are then considered by the Cabinet Transport Committee.”