COUNCIL & CONTRACT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1107, 21 April 1911, Page 6

COUNCIL & CONTRACT.

TRAM ADVERTISING. MR. FLETCHER'S PROTEST. The solicitors for Me;.-rs. Lucas, Brown (the successful tenderers for advertising on the Wellington city trams), said the Mayor to the City Council last evening, liad written that they were prepared to complete tho agreement for advertising, but they desired to obtain six months' grace to enable them to import material necessary to complete the work. The council had suggested, in the first instance, said the Mayor, that tho firm should fulfil their contract by June, which would give them a couple of months. A councillor: "Have they found their sureties?" The Mayor; ""One surety has been found. J cannot disclose tho name, but it can bo handed round to councillors if they desire it." Councillor Hindniarsh: "How much? .£■500?" The Mayor: "Yes." Councillor Fletchei: "Was it not pioposed and carried that this document must bo signed and scaled within fourteen days?" The Mayor replied that the contractors had to accept within fourteen days. Councillor Fletcher: "But they liave | not. accepted now." The Mayor: "Yes they have." Councillor Fletcher: "But are you going to accept their tender on ono security Tho Mayor asked tho City Clerk to read the letter to the contractors. The letter was read, containing the resolution of the council. Tho resolution •read that it liad been decided to accept the tender "provided the contract was completed within fourteen days." Councillor Fletcher: "I submit the contract has not been carried out. I ask your Worship's ruling." Tho Mayor: "I rulo that they have signified their acceptance of the contract, and if we give them six months' graco the thing is ended." Councillor Shirtclitfe: "It naturally follows that these men must have a reasonable time." Ho moved that their request be granted conditionally on their at once signing the contract with that proviso. ' This was seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald, who pointed out that the material for the advertisements must be. obtained from Home. The Mayor: "There is no doubt we must give them time, and it is only a question of how much we must allow." Councillor Fletcher, in tho course of further remarks, said he had desired to be consistent right through in this' matter. The Mayor: "I think you have been." (Laughter.) Councillor Fletcher: "Then I submit that tho terms of tho resolution of last meeting have not been, complied with." The Mayor: "Pardon me, councillor; I can't let my ruling bo questioned. (Hear, hear.) I have accepted the motion, and rule that if ■ six months' time is given then the contract can be signed." Councillor Fletcher: "And you rule that it is in order within the terms ot the previous resolution?" The Mayor: "Yes." Councillor Fletcher: "Then I can't understand it. . . Oh, yes. Councillor Hindniarsh supplies me with a phrase: 'You can give mo the reason, but not the understanding.' ... It doesn't sav much for a regulated body," h« added in reply to another councillor. A vote was taken. Councillor Fletcher called for a division, and only ho voted against the resolution. "There is virtue sometimes in a minority" was his concluding remark.