THE GRIFFITHS TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11324, 30 September 1930, Page 5

THE GRIFFITHS TRAGEDY

WAS TENDER. PRICE FAR TOO LOW ? (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyrigiit) (Received Sept. 29, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 29. Tho Daily Herald says: “Behind the Griffiths tragedy lies a story of a world famous engineer’s fear that a miscalculation in connection with the Assouan clam contract might injure his personal reputation. Sir John Griffiths was also distracted by the knowledge that the contract might be taken out of his hands by the Egyptian Government, in which evenv it was a possibility that he would he held responsible for the difference of £'3OO,CCO between his estimate and tlie next highest tender. Indeed, engineers of the world were staggered by the smallness of Sir John Griffiths’ aender, it being nearly £1,000,000 less than the highest, which was £3,000,000. After the acceptance of the tender, the suspicion arose that Sir John had allowed only for ordinary steel on. the work, wherein rustless steel was required. During the past week Sir John Griffiths’ friends in England had been making desperate efforts to save the situation.”