Rights of Power Board’s Consumers

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7105, 14 March 1933, Page 3

Rights of Power Board’s Consumers

SHOULD THEY HAVE PREFER-

ENCE TO WORK?

DISCUSSION OVER A PRINTING

TENDER

Whether the printing of account forms and other matter required by the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board should be given to the lowest tender<?r, or to a firm that ‘was. a. consumer of the board’s, formed the subject of discussion at tho monthly meeting of the board yesterday. The matter came up following consideration of a recommendation by the finance committee that the lowest tender bar one (the latter being passed over because of the paper not being suitable) be accepted. This was agreed to by the board, but the matter was reopened at the request of Mr. P. G. Guy, and adoption of the recommendation rescinded. It. was then ascertained that among the tenderers was a Feilding firm, which in a covering letter attached to its tender (at a considerably higher figure than that recommended for acceptance) pointed out that it was about the board’s biggest consumer of power in Feilding, whereas Palmerston North printing firms were net buyers of power from tho board. There were ten families dependent on that, firm and they in turn were consumers of the board’s.

•Tt is time that we considered our own consumers in matters like these/’ said Mr. W. McKay, in moving that tho Feilding firm be advised that its tender would be accepted if it wore reduced by the amount of the difference between it and the tender _ recommended by the finance committee for acceptance, Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.: You can’t do that. Mr. McKay then moved that the Feilding tender be accepted as it stood, Mr. Nash mentioned that when he had been chairman -of the board it had been a definite instruction of his t.o the secretary that as much work as possible should be given t.o Feilding firms who were consumers of the board’s.

“If you are going to carry on business in this way,” said Mr. Nash, referring to Mr. McKays amended motion, "I don’t know what the board will come to.’

Mr. McKay expressed the view that the board should call for tenders only from among its own consumers. Palmerston North firms, he said, had the benefit of cheaper electricity than Feilding firms. Mr. Nash said he would not object to tho board calling for tenders from among its own consumers, but he did not believe that when open tenders had been called the board should accept one which showed a big margin of increase.

Mr. P. G. Guy pointed out that giving the tender to tho Feilding firm would keep several workmen, who were individual consumers of tlic board, going. He considered that consumers should have preference over evervone else.

An amendment —that fresh tenders should be called for—was moved by Mr. E. 0. Bond, this being seconded by Mr. J. Hodgens. The chairman (Mr. O. McElroy): There is the question of publicity being given to the prices quoted. A request was accordingly made to the Press representatives that the figures should not bo made public. Mr. Bond’s amendment was then put to the meeting and carried by seven votes .to two. It was further decided that the chairman, secretary

and Mr. Bond be a sub-committee to deal with the fresh tenders, with power to act.