ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14144, 20 August 1909, Page 8

ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

I -Sir, From your account of the last ' City Council meeting hold on the 12th ' instant it would appear that tho Coun- • cil called for tenders for the insurance against accidents for their , employees, and after the tenders had been •- • carefully considered by the Finance Committee it was decided by that body to recommend the Council to accent the lowest offer,' |C viz., that of a large and reputable English office, that company's offer being over. £100 '' less than any other. Tho Council did not ffr adopt the recommendation of the Finance Committee, but referred the whole matter back to them, with the apparent object of giving a local company the preference, although they had quoted over £100 more. Now, sir, as a citizen and ratepayer, I - strongly object on principle to this procedure. It is not only grossly unfair to the "' • J lowest tenderer, but a very dangerous prece- . I. dent for the Council to establish. The fact of the _ local office paying more rates aaf 1 , employing more clerks is no argument in support of committing such an unconstitu- , . tional act as that isue-gested. I have . dis- &•. cussed this matter with several prominent 1 citizens, and they entirely agree with me that if this error is committed by the Coun--V 1 cil, how can they in future ask British firm® •/'. to tedder for their contracts, in view of the above circumstances? If the lowest tender H--is-not accepted in this case, I am sure it will . lead to trouble, and also lay the councillors open to charges of injustice and the wilful wasting of ratepayers'money. ' J- It. Ren'deh- ' •