TENDERERS PROTEST

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1932, Page 11

TENDERERS PROTEST

DUNEDIN POST OFFICE

PUT TO GREAT EXPENSE

The indefinite poßtponemcnt of the building Of Dunedin's^ new post office has caused nr>' little concern to builders and contractors in other towns as.well as in Dunedin, who had gone to great expense and.trouble to prepare tenderg for a work of such magnitude. Interviews given to the Christehurcn "Press" showed a general. opinion that -the G6yernment; might at least have given notification of the abandonment of the work- earlier- than a ; single day before the'closing of tenders. As it.is; the various tenderers; of whom there are a fair number in Christchurch, have been put to the expense of j preparing their estimates, and just when the task is about to be completed, after some months of. calculation, they have been informed that a sudden, decision-of the Government, has made their work useless; * • .. 'j •'■.-; '.-.-■ - :.:.-■ •- -.'.• ; .>, ■;:

The expense involved in tendering for such a great work ii considerable. Indeed,, it is estimated that the total cost of preparing estimates on'the? part'of three builders, together With' their .■ subcontractors, and sur.yeyors, will amount to about £1000. Even should the Government decide to build- the post oface next year, the changed conditions would make if necessary'to prepare an entirely new: set of costs, involving the outlay of' similar' sums again. When the number of tenderers throughout the whole Dominion is taken into consideration it is certain that the postponement of tho work at'such a late hour will cost^building firms :s'ome' thousands of pounds. .:;•.■• --',■ ■:' ■ ■ .'■ '; -.:.: ;?,-■:-. .-■: ■■:;

1 The principal of one important firm of contractors in Christchurch said-that while the Government was apparently forced to make every possible economy, it -had apparently lost v sight. of ■tho fact 'th© post-offico .would' be spread ~dyeiv !thte6^vfoUr)j'dr-Ji;y'en:flye years.'; "The: ,'ann.xiai^^^ dutlay" lvoiife-therefore not be :ne.arly-; stf COTsMerable^a:suinJ

.; Other b'aild<srsemi«hasised the loss of :omploy&ent-: caused -^y- the Govern-' jmorit's'-clecision: ; It;was: estimated 'that in-Dunedin1 alone more than 200 men, at _pre'se£tvTOthout" regular,"employment,' jwouldbq -employed for. periods ranging n'p to!tKrc'p; years-/ and.the Work would by no means be restricted to skilled labour. Of the wholo cost an amount of £.150,000 was expected to bo spent in wages throughout tho country.