German Tender For Wire Rope

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 4

German Tender For Wire Rope

Accepted by Auckland Harbour Board STRONG PROTESTS VOICED Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The acceptance of a tender for the supply of wire ropes made in-Germany was decided upon by the Auckland Harbour Board although the proposal met with strong opposition from several members who claimed that tho board should purchase British goods, and also criticised working conditions in Germany. Tho report of the purchasing and stores committee stated that the tenders had been referred to the board’s engineer and ho had reported that tne tender for ropes made in Germany was 21.1 per cent, lower than the tender for Australian-made ropes and 24.7 per cent, under the lowest tender for ropes made in Great Britain. The ropes made by the German firm supplied under the last two contracts had given excellent results. Glider the circumstances it was recommended that the tender for the German-made ropes be accepted. The committee recommended that the engineer’s report be approved. Mr. A. S. Sutherland said he would move as an amendment that the lowest British tender be accepted. He was the representative of the primary producers on tho board and at present the Minister of Marketing was in England trying to secure a greater market for our produce. The British market absorbed practically all New Zealand’s primary produce, also tho conditions in Britain where wire rope was manufactured were far above the conditions existing in Germany to-day. “I am opposed to the acceptance of the German tender because tho German workers are not working under a free system of control,” said Hon. T. Bloodworth, “also because a man is lying under sentence of death in Germany because three years ago ho opposed the Hitler regime.” Mr. Bloodworth added that 20 of the most influential 4 men in Great Britain had signed a memorandum asking that this man’s case should be reconsidered because one of the witnesses had admitted perjury, but the request had been refused. That man’s only offence was to have different views from the present regime. He was against the acceptance of the German tender. Mr. W. B. Darlow suggested that for the sake of tho reputation of tho board it would bo profitable to reinstate the British preference clause. “This is a very vital subject and I hope every member of the board realises the importance of the decision to be arrived at in regard to the acceptance of tenders,” said the chairman, Mr. G. G. Macindoc, who added that there had been a lot of talk about the conditions in Germany which he did not dispute at all, but if the board confined its purchases as a board. and institution to Great Britain it would have to pay whatever prices were demanded. Members should be loyal to the committee appointed by the board. “The committee has brought forward a- definite recommendation that the tender of Felten and Guilleaume should be accepted,” added the chairman. “The recommendation did take into account the whole of the situation and to show their confidence in the committee members should support it.” Mr. Sutherland’s amendment was defeated and the committee’s report approved.