THE BUILDERS' UNION PROTEST

Evening Star, Issue 16782, 10 July 1918, Page 6

THE BUILDERS' UNION PROTEST

CONCERNING THE JOHN M'GLASHAN COLLEGE. The folio-wing correspondence has been handed to us for publication. As the mattor is one affecting the general public aa well as those more"immediately interested, we comply with the request:— The Dunedin Builders and Contractors' Industrial Union of Employers. May 30, 1918. Secretary Board of Governors of the M'Glashan College. Sir.—Wo, the above associa/an, enter a strong protest at the action of the M'Glashan College Committee in not calling for public tenders for the work when such an expenditure is involved. _ In all public bodies, where a like sum is to be expended, tenders must be called, and it is but right that the Church should have this work tendered for by public competition, and thus give the Duncdin builders (maiiy of whom are members and oflicebearars of the Presbyterian Church) a chance to compete for the work. We ask that the board meet a deputation from the above at your next meeting, or that you call a special meeting to discuss the matter. As wo reel that there are some aspects of tho matter which we can put before you that it is important you should know as from our point of view, and which we believe also to be likely to conserve the best interests of the board. —Wo are, etc., Orh CAmvuell, President. •Luncs Knox, Secretary. Messrs Orr Campbell and James Knox, Sirs, —Yours of May 31st came to hand to-day. A sub-committee has been appointed to deal with the new building at the John M'Glashan College. I think it would be as well that you should meet them. I shall send your letter to Mr Tannock. You might communicate with him. —I am, etc., Gh.miam IT. Balfoth. First Church, Dunedin, June 3, 1918. Juno. A, 1918. Secretary of John M - Glasbam College. Sir, —-My president has communicated to mo your telephone message to meet the deputation from tin- Builders' Association on Thursday. June 6, in First Church Hall, at 7.30 p.m. Wo have pleasure in accepting your decision to meet us to discuss the subject at issue.—l am, etc.. J.AUKs K.vox, Secretary. June 13, 1918. Tho Moderator. Dnncdin Preshvterv.

Sir.—l am instructed to forward to yon i the following resolution duly passed by ! the above:—We ho 2 to draw the citen- ' tiou of the Pres.bvt.orv to the action of the I John. -M'Glasinn College Board of Governors in proposing to ;.;ivo the building of ■ the residential block to a certain finn of builders without competition, and thus deprive the rest, of the builders of an opportunity to tender for the work, which is regarded by the trade as a srreat hard- , ship iind injustice. In acting: thus, it will j undoubtedly alienate the sympathy of a ! lan;o section of the community from the | college, and will jilso deprive the cau?e ; of any financial help that rnicrbt be ex- | peeled from (boss connected with the | buildincc trade. We forward you .1 eopy of a. letter sent bv us to the hoard, v-l:o agreed to meet a deputation on Thursday. 6th inst.. when we placed our views before the board ; but up to the present we have not been favored with a reply. The best interests of the board will be conserved by callintr for competitive prices for the work, and In- so duinu' would remove any cause of complaint by an important section of the community,' whose sympathy and holn would be'of considerable askance to the. board in tlio out of the above i undertaking. We respectfully request 'Hie | Presbytery to upon the Hoard of Governors fit have, the work carried out by j public competition.— We are,etc., Op.w C'amimiki.i., President. ; Jas. Knox. Secretary. ■ Mr Jas. Knox, secretary Dimediu Builders' Association. Sir.—l have to acknowledge receipt of vonr letter of .Tune 15, with enclosed minute protesting against the action cf John M'GWVum IVoe.vd of Governors ft>'.ev\t the '. dormitory block contract. J' have for- j warded the ahove to th- clerk of the Drm- j edin Presbvterv. the 11:: v. John Kdpatrkk. j The matter will be dealt with in duo j course, and the P>e bytery's decision com-I mimieated to you later.—l am. 4 1c. J. J. Cmknky. i The Manse, Waikouaiti. June U, 1918. Bunedin. June 17, 1918, 11 N: ret ]) 1 r B 11 \ t 1) 1 -T 1 lei 1 tU R 1 r 1 f 1 1 1 1 11 f v t t ti 1 lit I I' 1, I , t 1 ) 1 I I 1 n i \ t) f 1 t \ i let 11 1 1 I t t I I I I 1 11 1 1 i t v t II 1 I 1 1 1 t I ! t, tie 1 I " » I } , 11 i 1 1 r 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 n 0 1111 j 1 t ! c t T nt e' t I I 1 1 1 1 t 111 II 1 11 1 ! i , I U i i ' 1) 1 11 tl f t t 1 tl w 1 1 1 ( 11 1 1 11 1 11. if 1 ] I 1 ' 1 ( f I 1 t 1p - 11 , 1 ; n f ! 1 1 .' 1 1 1 1 • , r t ti iif , f , a I b t t 1 1 ' 1 1 tl M 1 ! 0 ( 1 f 1 , ]1 , lit 1 1 ! ! . 11l 1 1 1 ] \ 1 1 ' * ! ' P| tl 7 tl te 1 ( 1 1 1 tl J 1 * 1 J t 1 1 f , 1 111 1 Ho ] ft T t tl PT 1 t t 11(11 1,1 t 1 HI 11 il n 1 I af r tl 1 1 t' 1 I t I te 1 1 1 1111 1 f 1 1 1 ( 1 i nt 1 11 1 13 1 t 1 ] a 1 11 tl t not 11 11 1 Ir tl 1 0 1 tl 1 0 tl 1 1 M S Its q t t 11 1 t 1 1 11 1 11 1 el v s j I] n 1 f 1 t II rl lit 1 I jarel Iv ( a id 1 < He f tl ell e u 1 1 We t t t tl 1 t nil i tl r fie U -, d t M oO * I hj du t e t t 1 tte I t , v lot I op lei pen af ti a 1 ti o y a pen 1 «.c 1 f r ek\a 1 As time was precious, the board had to* conclude the matter, and resolved to 'accept Fletcher Brothers' offer, which wai the lower, and instructed the Building Committee to complete the plans and specifications with that company. The board have all along been prepared to fairly con skier the merits of the plans of the two competing- firms, and they can hardly "ok accused of not giving Crawford and Go. a fair opportunity to submit reasonably dej tailed plans and specifications. The board wish to make it clear that they received your deputation out of courtesy, but they I are not prepared to admit that your aaso- { elation' as any other- association has any

rignt to dictate- -what mei&ode should las adopted by the board. The members. having carefully considered this matter, are satisfied that the interests of the institution which they represent will be absolutely safeguarded, a,nd the money will be expended to the best advantage, and they are assured that the building will be completed in good .time for next year's work.— 1 am, etc.j C. G. White, Secretary. Dunedin, June 25, 1918. The Secretary M'Glashan College Board of Governors. Sir, —I am instructed to reply to yours of the 17th June as follows:—"The Builders' Association wish to assure your board that they did not meet it in deputation to discuss any matter between Messrs Crawford and Co. and the board. The conversation took place at the meeting, and the reference you made to it in vour letter, shows plainly that Crawford and Co. knew (as the Builders' Association also knew) that they were to he deprived of the opportunity of tendering in any form for tho ereetion'of the M'Glashan College, as they were for (lie Old People's Homes. Hence Crawford and Co.'s action, which was a matter between your board and that firm. The Builders' wish to Bay "that they have never before known a, public or semi-public body give a work of such a, nature and magnitude to any firm on such conditions as your board have done"—that is, for the builder to act as supervising architect, and his servant as inspector over his own works, with no one representing those who supply the money to .see that the proper quantities and quality of material and workmanship are put into the various trades in such a building. There is no firm in Dunedin or in tht» Dominion that would not be pleased of tho opportunity to give an estimate and carrr nut works on these terms—terms which they have never ventured to ask for. The Builders' Association consider "that your board, in scleetins one single firm to do the vro-Tk under these favored conditions, have in effect inferred that builders of many veaTs' standing, who have belt-ed to bi'lld Duncdin as it is to-dav, are incompetent, fiv.d not to be trusted with vour work." Many- of these firms have large plants, machinery, and stocks, and aro capable of carrying out any class of buildin'V. as thev have done in the past. Many of these builders are n]vr> members of the Presbyterian Clnu-ch, who have in the past and are now contributing to the fm>d'= for the predion of tli">e institutions, but are nevertheless practically boycotted by your board, and at a time when tlie stress of war mpkes it hard to live thev are deprived of tlie onriortunity of tendering for what I'tlle bii'ldine is being done, and are practicallv told to mind thpir own business when they complain. The association ask no favors, but they do exrvct justice, especially from a bodv who should, we think, cr've ji'stice to all and undue favors to none. The association feel assured that if vour board look at the matter from a just point of view thev w;ll see that our protest is reasonable.—T am. etc., James Knox, Secretary. Dunedin. June 25, 1918. The Clerk, Dunedin Presbytery. Sir,—T am instructed to forward you a copy of reply to deputation of 6th June, which mv association have received from the John M'Glashan College Board of Governors. The enclosed reply to above explains itself, and wo would be pleased to have if pined before the Presbytery, with, a view to having their opinion on the merits of the dispute between my association and the Board of Governors of the John M'Olashan College. We desire that your replv be unequivocal, so that we may know exactly where we stand with tho executive of' the Presbyterian Church. —I am. etc., J.vmks Knox, Secretary. Dunedin. July 2, 1918. Mr .lames Knox. Secretary Builders' Assoj ciation, Dunedin. fv'r, —t am directed to convey to yon tho : follow-in? minute of Presbytery meeting I held on above date:—"Communications ra John M'Glashan College were laid on the table, and it was moved, seconded, and a»reed to: 'That the communications bo re ei-cd.'"— Extr-jcted from the Presbytery records by John Ktitatiuck, Preibytery Clark.