BY WHAT METHOD?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9997, 28 April 1925, Page 5

BY WHAT METHOD?

CONSTRUCTION OF WATERCONTRACT SYSTEM RETAINED. BROKEN FAITH ALLEGED. Whether the outer breakwater should bo constructed by day labor or under the contract system was tho big question which exercised the minds and voices of members of tlie Harbor Board for a considerable time at- yesterday’s meeting. The debate arose out of the motion by the chairman (Mr. Geo. Smith) that the resolution authorising proceeding with the breakwater by contract be rescinded.

In proposing the resolution, the chairman said that he had moved it to put the scheme on a sound footing.' The engineer had submitted estimates for the construction of the breakwater providing for £70,000 for plant and £15,000 for scows for conveying the stone to Gisborne. He omitted this latter cost as it was a job that con’d lie done by contract. If the Board let the conveying of the stone by contract, the engineer could obtain tenders for the plant. The harbor could be opened up before next winter, and, by giving the engineer time, bo could obtain the best estimates which he could secure in short time. Even if the construction of the breakwater was undertaken by contract, tbo contractor would require the same plant, and, when the work was completed, the plant would be’ong to him. If further oxters on of tlie breakwater was required a further contract would have to be let. and the Board would have to pay lor the plant twice over. He instanced the contract for the railway bridge. Tho contractor was a few pounds below an outside firm, even though he had the plant on hand. It was not to be expected that contractors would use their plant for nothing. Jn ;liis experience of contracting breakwaters contractors would not give a set price for carrying out the breakwater. The contractor would merely submit a price per ton of stone. The engineer had given estimates for the work, ar.d lie contended no Harbor Board could let a contract for the construction of a breakwater; it would h ive to be clone bv the Harbor Board and dav labor. The building of the breakwater in Gisborne was vorv riskv* and a contractor _ would make full allowance for contingencies ; if the contingencies d d not arise. ti;en the contractor pocketed bis c-hcouc all the same. The Board would never get satisfaction by bating a contract and the Board would have to undertake the work bv dav labor. There was another point in favor of dav labor in that AVhnrcongnonga would probably be the site from which stone would bo taken, and where men were working for the Beard they would not lie so likely to put in bad stone into the concrete, whereas men working for a- contractor would be more tempted to do so and that- would mean the expense of having inspectors over every sect on on the Board. He advocated day labor only where the work could be done in the interests of the Board, as be believed it could be done more efficiently and economically.

Air." Alirfiekl, in seconding, stated that the work could be done better bv day labor. He knew that when the Timaru Harbor Board undertook the first breakwater, a contract was let at so much per ton. and the contractors d : d not care whether the stone spread out or not, and the contractors made a. fortune. The construction of the second breakwater was undertaken by day labor, and tho work was carried out cons’derably more eeoncnrcally and effic entlv. Mr, Tomhleson pointed' out that a harbor bad to be built for £750 000 and if they got- a fair price, the ratepayers, know for what price the barber would bs carried out. Apparently the chairman had sat back and kept quiet-, thinking lie could grab tlie country members in to liis way of thinking at the last moment. There had been no estimates subnrtted. The chairman: I c-an’fc n’low thatstatement to go unchallenged. I have given tlie estimates to-day and the plans are ready. Air. Tomhleson: Are the specifications ready for calling for tenders? The chairman: Yes, but it will delav calling the tenders for the plant. The work will be delayed for six months, and it will have to be aclvertksed at Home. Mr. Quirk pointed cut that he bad been of opinion the work in the inner harbor could be better carried out by the Board, but he was out- for having tlie construction of the breakwater by contract-. If the Board did not let the contract they would not know bow near tho cost wou’d be to the estimates, whereas, by letting a contract. the ratepayers would know the figure which tlie breakwater would cost. The plant it was suggested should be purchased would be useless when the breakwater was completed. Air. Todd favored day labor, on tlie grounds that the work carved out proved that the engineer could g-ve efficiency with economy. . A contractor would be likely to -push rubbishy stone into the concrete and that was not likely with, day labor and proper supervision. . Air. Corson disliked going back on the proposal to construct the breakwater by contract but lie po'ntcd out that the condit'ons bad a’tered. They had Rakanroa in view then. There was a good deal of papa at Whareoiigaonga, and they cl;d not want to have a contractor foisting bad stone oil to the Board, as would not bo the case with the work by day labor. Mr. Holdsworth said that the question of rubbishv stone being pushed on the Board was r'.d'cufous. Surely lu> said, there was a man wlio could inspect tbo stone as it was brought in? The chairman: That will bo an expense. Mr ,Sherratt favored the contract system, stating that the chairman liad assured the Board when an agreement was reached between the town and country members concerning the starting of the works, that he would favor the carrying out of tlie works by contract. He had broken faith with the Board. The chairman said lie could give a direct denial to the charge. He explained that when the construction of tlie breakwater was held up, a net when the Crown Law Office sa d that the . Board must go on, lie made a promise to start the inner works before bringing up the breakwater construction' bv contract or day labor. He had made no promise that certain works would be carried out by contract. ’ Air. Sherratt: But you voted lor tbo resolution! The chairman: Yes, I know I di'cl.

Dr. Collins said that there was no doubt that country members hadjieen led to believe that, if they voted tor pruceedhig with certain works by dav labor the rest would be done by contract. "The chairman, in liad moved that the breakwater should', be carried out by contract and the country members liad a right to acliove that the remainder of tlie- work would be done by contract. If the. contract proposal was cast aside how would the Board know what the cost would be, as the engineer’s estimates were onlv provisional. What would the Board do with £80 ; 000 worth oF plant at the end of the undortakuur. It would ho useless. The Board did not even know tho cost of the stone, hew often the site con’d be worked, oy I be oun nt’tv of stone that- eon < lie brought over, and yet the Board was asked to turn from contract to dav labor! . , - Mr. BTrcll said that it was.understood that the work was.to he done b v • contract, and/lie regretted he could

not support the proposal. What was to. hamper, the Board giving instructions to obtain tenders for tho plant? Mr. Williams, favoring tlic contract system,-said that tho Board did not have an estimate of tho cost by day labor, whereas the Board would know the cost by contract. Ho hoped that tho cost would be so great that the Board could not proceed, as he liad always been in favor ( of a mod.fieri scheme.

Air. Alirfield, in explanation, stated that he had always advocated day labor; lie had done so 12 months ago, and would do so again. Dr. Collins: The motion for the contract system 12 months ago was car-r-:ed unanimously. (Laughter). Air. Holden contended that tlic work should be undertaken by contract, stating that, if tho Board wanted the job finished in a specified tune then they should undertake the work by contract. The. Board had been working for two years and had done very little. In reply, the chairman saiu that though he proposed that the work bedone by contract, members had urged him to move a proposal in connection with the inner works and ho did so. He had always been in favor of day -labor. The efciniafes of the engineer would have to be taken on trust", as no man could say definitely what the undertaking would cost. Dicl the Board think that they would get proper prices when the contractors know they were fishing for them? The estimates of the stone from the time -;t left- the quarry, find been prepared, but lie did not want to pub--ish them.

Dr. Collins: What are they? Tho chairman stated that tlie estimated cost of the 700 feet extension to the .existing mole would be £38,000, and for the 15000 foot breakwater £135.000, phis £70,000 for plant, which brought the total cost to £600,000, with adequate outer wall protection, which would afford ample lac.lit.es to stopping. Continuing, he complimented Mr. Williams for expressing his views plainly against a breakwater. Mr. Holdsworth: I associate rayse’f with him. (Laughter). Concluding, Air. Smith said that the shelving of the question was no good for the district or the Board. Dr. Collins: Because we meant to do it by contract you say we are shelving it. Tho chairman: l r es. I do. Dr. Collins: When you voted fur contract last year, were vou shelving it ? The chairman: It was a totally different matter. (Iron’cal laughter). When Air. Witters rose to speak, tlie chairman called him to order. But ho remarked: “] am vot’ng for your motion.” (Laughter). Continuing, Air. Witters said that the contract system proposed would not really he a contract, as the price wcu’d only be submitted at so much per ton.