STATE DWELLINGS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 255, 24 July 1937, Page 12

STATE DWELLINGS

Unsatisfactory Tenders at Auckland Tenders received in Auckland recently for the construction of dwellings under the Government’s housing scheme were referred to yesterday by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, Mr. J. A. Lee. “Tenders closed a few days ago for the erection in two contracts of 127 houses on the Casey Estate, Auckland,” he said. “The tenders received are not at all satisfactory. On the other hand, the calling of tenders at the same time for the erection of 15 houses at Otahuhu produced a splendid response, no fewer than 28 tenders being received. The competition was keen and Mie .tendering very close. The prices of the lowest tenders are most fair and reasonable, and I wish to congratulate the builders concerned on their practical co-operation. “As a result of my department’s experience at Otahuhu, the housing scheme at Wie Casey Estate will be subdivided into smaller contracts to give an opportunity to those builders who tendered excellent prices for the Otahuhu scheme, and yet, owing to the keen competition, were unable to obtain a contract. This will also give the unsuccessful tenderers a chance to amend their previous tender. “Up to the present the prices submitted by the smaller builders as compared with the tenders of the larger firms have, in the great number of cases throughout the country, been distinctly disappointing, but this time the position in Auckland has been reversed. Tlie small builders are showing a commendable willingness to cooperate. “This new development is most welcome to the Department of Housing Construction and myself, and bears out our original contention that there is room, in the scheme for the large and the small building organisations, and for the carpenters’ coo-perative enterprises. Incidentally, I would mention that at the moment there are 25 different contractors engaged in tho construction of State houses.”