NEW WORKSHOPS

Evening Star, Issue 19290, 1 July 1926, Page 7

NEW WORKSHOPS

SEPARATE TENDERS REQUESTED

COMBINED SYSTEM ELIMINATES DUNEDIN

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 1. A deputation consisting of the builders and ironmasters of Dunedin, the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, and employees in the engineering and_ carpentering trades of the dominion saw Mr Coates (Prime Minister and Minister of Railways) to urge that separate, instead of combined tenders, be called for the erection of the new Addington and Hillside Railway Workshops. The deputation was introduced by Mr Sidey, who said that Dunedin was the homo of the iron industry in New Zealand, and that there was a good deal of feeling over the matter which formed the subject of the deputation. Mr Taploy (Mayor of Dunodin) stated that the Railway Department would probably stultify itself in getting competitive tenders, by the clause in the specifications providing that only combined tenders would be received. If tho tenders were separated a number of smaller firms would be able to tender, but as the specification stood it was feared that the contract for the work would go to firms outside of the dominion. Steel girders, in which some 7,000 tons of steel were required, could bo made in Dunedin, thus helping to meet the unemployment situation in the iron industry. On behalf of the Dunedin master builders Mr Love said that rather than ask for direct preference for local industries they merely wanted a sporting chance, “ to have a fly ” in tendering. “If tho other fellow beats us,” ho said, “then good luck to him. Wo don’t want tho Government to give away one penny on this job, but we want to bo able to tender on the most favorable conditions.” If the tenders wore separated there would be at least four firms in Dunedin who would tender for Hillside. The separation of tenders would not cause any delay in completing tho work. The President of tho Otago Ironmasters’ Association (Mr Sparrow) said that if tho specifications had to bo followed out it would mean that one contractor in Christchurch, Ottawa, London, Sydney, or Melbourne would get the job, and the whole _of tho wages would bo paid to men outside tho dominion. Tho drawings were very plain, and it would not bo difficult for cither the Christchurch or Dunedin ironmasters to fabricate steel girders. There was up-to-date machinery for the purpose iu Dunedin, where, however, work in foundries had been very slack for some months past. Speaking for the Boilermakers’ Federation, Mr Warner mentioned that a number of married men iu the iron trade in Dunedin were only employed periodically, owing to slackness of trade. If local industries were supported more work would be available, and employers might then Ixa expected to expend money on improving their plant in order to bo bettor able to compote against other firms. Mr H. Mainland (New Zealand Employers’ Federation) said that the idea of letting one contract for the works would mean that they would be going a long way from assisting local industries. Knowing that tho right stamp of contractors and tradesmen was available in the country, ho felt that tho work could be done hero, and if it could bo done at anything like the figure desired, then they were justified m making their request. Tho Prime Minister stated that the matter had not reached him in any form excepting a discussion of how they could fit in most conveniently iu replacing the shops and designing a contract which would fit in without interfering with tho general work of the department. Ho asked Mr Davidson, constructional engineer, to explain to the deputation the official reasons for adopting tho form of contract. Mr Davidson stated that tho matter had received a great deal of expert consideration, and had been fully reported on to the Railways Board. The special reason for making one contract for the shops arose from the order in which the work must be carried out. New shops would have to be built cm the site of the old ones. The new steel wagon shop at Addington was on tho site of the present machine simp. There would bo a car and wagon shop at Addington, ami tho locomotive shop would bo _at Hillside. Tho new foundry at Hillside would be on the site of the old car and wagon simp, which could not be removed until Addington shop was completed. Thus it was necessary to provide for bonuses for prompt work and penalties for delay, which would work in association with the jobs in eaclx city, as delay in one centre would nullify tho good effect of promptitude in the other. Therefore it would not be reasonable to pay a bonus in one case if the good effect of this quick work could not 1)0 utilised. The contract time for the completion of the steel wagon shop was computed from tho actual time of completion of tho locomotive shop at Hillside, avid the foundry at Hillside was computed from the time of completion of the car and wagon shop at Addington. A properlybalanced timo-tabie could only be carried out if it was in the hands of one contractor. No separate tender for Addington could be let unless there was a satisfactory tender for Hillside, and vice versa, with each contractor agreeing not to make claims for extension of time or for bonuses unless the other job was equally auvanccd. Mr Love suggested that tho conditions appertaining to bonuses would have to bo varied, and possibly bonuses could he withdrawn from two of the jobs. Tho Minister; And how would the Minister get on with his programme? Mr Love; See that the contractors got their work done to time. The Minister; “Wo are giving them a bonus to finish in better time. That is how urgent it is, in my opinion.” Ho asked tho deputation to realise the position of tho department, which had to got up-to-date shops; for he was assured that with those facilities they need not import a single thing, because it would be made as cheaply in New Zealand. Anything in tho w«y of delay would mean maintaining the handicap on the department. Gould not tho firms amalgamate to put in a combined tender?

Mr Love: No doubt they could, but on short notice they could make it more competitive for the separate jobs. Ho assured tho Minister that if ho got the right contractors there would bo no difficulties with good planning and staflIt was suggested by Messrs Sidcy and Tapley that the matter could be more effectively dealt with it the _ department’s experts consulted with tho builders, and this arrangement was approved by the Prime Minister, who said it would have to come hack to himself personally. The simplest solution seemed to be an amalgamation of firms.