NOT ENCOURAGED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 107, 7 May 1909, Page 8

NOT ENCOURAGED.

[LOCAL TENDERS FOR-CRJANES. MANUFACTUBEHS' GMEVtAiNCE. A couple of days ago Mr. J. P. iLnke, M.P., declared that the specificationsissued by the Auckland Harbour Board for the provision of sixteen electric cranes and one 80-ton floating steam crane, practically debarred New Zealand firms from tendering. In reply, the Hon. E. 'Mitchelson, chairman of the board,has stated that "tendera were called for in New Zealand and practically in all parts of the world. Although New Zealand firms had six in which to tender, not one firm put in a tender." Mr. Lukete response to-day to that assertion is that the conditions prevented New Zealand firms from quoting prices ; and to support his argument he produced copies of correspondence that had passed between the board and the New Zealand Ironmasters' Association. The board stipulated— (l) Prices to be f.0.b., English port. (2) Tenders to close in London on 15th August, 1908. (3) Only firms which have executed a similar contract can compete. The Ironmasters' Association, by letter, dated 19th June, asked the board to extend the time for the electric cranes till 30fh October, and for the steam crane -till 31st December. Eventually, the board agreed to an extension of the period of tendering for tiie electric cranes till Ist October, and decided that "in the case of tenderers within the Dominion the necessity of having previously installed similar cranes, under test, shall not apply." The association had alfio submitted to the board that "f.o.b. prices involve the board in an indefinite ultimate oost, as the freight and duty on the bulky structural steel work must be very heavy, whereas by accepting a price for the work complete, the board's full liability would be clearly and definitely ascertained." TURNED DOWN. In a final letter, on 2nd July, the association's secretary, .Mr. J. 'H. Mackie, wrote: — "The main point in my letter of 19th June, regarding calling for alternative tenders, has apparently been overlooked by the board. It is manifestly impossible for local firms to give an f.o.b. English port tender, and in any case the time allowed is too short for local firms, if their tenders are to be in 'London on Ist October. To make up a tender for the cranes complete would requir© that a 'British and a local firm should work in conjunction, and the shortest possible time to do so would be 129 days, bat 143 days is more likely to be required ; whereas, from the date of the board's advertisement in the local papers until the tenders dose in (London, even with the extension of time granted, is only 113 days. It is observed also that in your reply no mention is made of the 80-ton steam crane, and my association begs to reiterate the opinion that the tulle of this work can be made to more advantage locally than if imported." To these and other arguments, the board's final answer, delivered on Bth July, was, "That no further action be taken. ' ' LACK OF CONSIDERATION. Mr. Luke spoke strongly in approval of a paragraph in the association's letter of 2nd July, "I am to add," wrote the secretary, "that if your board and other similar bodies would but give evidence of their desire or willingness toulace with manufacturers in the Dominion orders for such larger works as may otherwise be imported, it will do much to encourage and stimulate ironmasters and others to extend and improve their plant, and provide generally up-to-date facilities for carrying on their businesses on a larger scale than 'is warranted by present conditions." The contention, according to llr. Luke, is that the Auckland Harbour Board still shares the old prejudice against "made in New Zealand," and was not, at heart, anxious to give local manufacturers an opportunity to make and install \ the cranes. Hydraulic • cranes, of a quality as good as any imported, he continued, had been made in New Zealand against ■ outside competition, and he held that similar success could have been achieved with electric cranes, for which only the motors, a minor part of the plant, would be imported. THE GOVERNMENT BLAMED. While discussing the action of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. Luke mentioned the procedure of the Government in connection with tenders for motor launches last year. , The specifications issued by the Defence Department stipulated that the engines piust be either Gardner, Thornycroft, Union, or Jersey Standard — two English and two 4aierican makers. The comment of the Ironmasters' Association at the time was that as there were several New Zealand firms in a position to build the engines required, they should at least have received an opportunity to tender. "We believe," it was added, "that in no other country in the world would the Government not only fail to give preference to local builders, but absolutely refuse to deal with them. . . . We cannot imagine the British Government calling for tenders for battleships and specifying that the machinery shall be built in Germany j yet this is an exact parallel to the action of the New Zealand Government." Finally, Mr. Luke expressed a belief that the heads of Government departments sought to place orders abroad because it was the easiest course to take. It was their duty to have working plans for the guidance of local firms. If their staffs were not able to do this necessary work, then it was time that the etaffs ■jvere built up.