DELAYED CONTRACT
9 THAMES-MADE ENGINES,
In response to a request from the Minister, of Messrs. A. and G. Price, the well-known engineering firm at Thames,, tendered in September last for the' construction of 24 locomotives, with an option to extend the number to forty, to b? built at Thames at the rate of eight annually. The fact that no decision has yet been announced regarding the matter was on Wednesday brought before the notice of £wo Ministers of the Crown who are visiting the borough, says the "Auckland Star." They were asked to impress upon the Minister of Railways the urgent need for information, a3 Price's, were faced with the necessity of shortly dispensing with between fifty and one hundred men, which was about half their staff. ' The firm would have difficulty mi replacing them if their, tender was accepted later. It was stated by a deputation that Price's had v already built 107 locomotives for the Railway Department 1, and that the work was satisfactory, as was also the price, although in excess of the English price by about £1000 per engine. If the policy of building up New Zealand industry was 'to be pursued it would be a calamity if Price's were to lose their staff, and the borough lose these men and.their families, some of whom were recent .arrivals and in wlwse sections the Government was financially interested. Sir James Parr said the questions how, when, and where the Railway Department should purchase its engines were primarily for the consideration' of ,the Minister of Railways. Now'that he was endeavouring to make the railways earn interest, sinking fund, and charges one could understand his difficulty. Personally, he would always favour paying a little more for a New Zaland article, provided it was of equal value and equal A telegram would be sent to the Minister of Railways representing the importance of an early decision to the borough and the local" industry.
The, Hon. G. J Anderson said he concurred in the terms of the inessaze.
An advertisement appears in this issue romtdms the exanii>""'on. o r i.1,. r.,,u.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1925, Page 8
Word Count
350DELAYED CONTRACT Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1925, Page 8
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