AUCKLAND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 506, 13 May 1909, Page 10

AUCKLAND NOTES.

tBT TELKQairE.—SrECUT, corriotondjnt.l Auckland, May 12. At tho meeting of the Auckland Harbour Boaid yesterday a letter was received from the secretary of. the New Zealand Ironmasters' Association, drawing attention'to the conditions of tenders as framed by some Harbour Boards in New Zealand. It was realised, be wrote, that in many cases , tbe calling of tenders favoured English and foreign firms to tho' detriment of New Zealand engineers. Instances had come to the knowledge, of- the' Association, of Harbour Boards having' accepted English and foreign .tenders , for tho construction of Harbour Board cranes and jiggers at a cost not below the tenders of New Zealand ironmasters, while at times tho conditions of tenders wero all against' New Zealand tenderers. The association urged that more consideration should be given to New Zealand firms in the' future in order that employment/might be given .to skilled workers, and the money, kept in tho Dominion. At tho present time New Zealand ironmasters ,wero feeling very' keenly tho slackness of trade, and many capable engineers wero out of employment. If in _ tho case of any special design for *-ork being required' sufficient' time was allowed, New Zealand ironmasters would obtain from, their agents in Great Britain the necessary designs, etc. Tho, letter was referred to tho board in-'.committee.-Before starting 'an address on tho rating on unimproved,land yaluos system in Auckland, Mr. H. G. Ell,-M,P., said that on arriving- here lio'had waited upon the Mayor of tho city, with 'a', request that ho would take tho chair at ,his> meeting.'; -Tho Mayor, ho said, asked'.tihio to .consider; the request. Ho was • supposed .. to .. give. a.n answer' on Saturday.-morning, . butno .answer had been received.!. 'Ho' (Mr.'-'Kll) had since heard that the Mayor had refused to tako the chair..This., was tho first time- in his political career that ho had-met-with such a refusal from any Mayor. If an Auckland member of Parliament went 'to -Christohurch and asked tho Mayor of that city to take tho chair he would not meet with a refusal. He expressed his thanks .to the Mayor of Grey Lynn (Mr. Geo; Sayers) for presiding at tho meeting.