STATE BUYING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 57, 5 September 1934, Page 11

STATE BUYING

LOCAL AND OVERSEAS

BUSINESS MEN'S ATTITUDE

The following remit was submitted to the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night, with a recommendation that it be forwarded to the Dominion Conference of Chambers of Commerce in November next:— "Government buying abroad. That the commercial community views with apprehension the present policy of Government in creating a buying department attached to the Oflice of the High Commissioner in London, thus increasing the already unduly high cost of this office without any commensurate advantage. It is urged that public tenders be called in New Zealand only for all requirements of Government and other public bodies, manufacturers, and others, both in New Zealand and abroad, being permitted to tender on level terms."

Mr. Andrew Fletcher questioned whether it would be wise to send forward such a remit. He did not think there was any evidence that the cost of the High Commissioner's Office was unduly high.

Mr. M. G. C. McCaul expressed the opinion that the Government should as far as possible cease setting up organisations of the kind referred to in the remit. There was no necessity for the State to have a buying organisation in London. The Government had buying officers in Now Zealand who had an intimate knowledge of the requirements of the Departments. Tenders should be called for in New Zealand as well as overseas, and New Zealand people should compete on. level terms with concerns overseas.

Mr. Stronach Paterson thought the principle embodied in the remit that tenders should be called in New Zealand was a right one. He agreed with Mr. Fletcher that the reference to the cost of the office of the High Commissioner should be struck out.

The words "thus increasing the already unduly high cost of this office without any commensurato advantage" were struck out, and the remit, as amended, was adopted, Mr. Fletcher dissenting.