BIG CLAIM ON CONTRACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15407, 16 September 1913, Page 8

BIG CLAIM ON CONTRACT.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE CASE.

BUILDERS AND BOARD.

ARBITRATOR AWARDS £8031.

The award in the dispute arising from the contract for the erection of the Seddon Memorial Technical College was communicated to the parties yesterday afternoon. The amount claimed from the Auckland Education Board by the contractors, Messrs. Rich and Jeffreys, was £15,606 Is Bd, and the arbitrator, Mr. Emest Gerard, awarded them £8031 6s lid.

The case has attracted much attention owing to the large amount in dispute, and to the lengthy and complicated nature of the arbitration proceedings. The original price for the erection of the college was £20,889 10s, of which the contractors received £14,828 13s. The contractors sought to recover from the board, in addition to the balance of £6060 16s lid due under the original contract, £4693 10s lid for extras (after giving credit for certain deductions), £851 13s lOd for loss of interest, and £4000 for general damages. The total liability admitted by the board was £3208 17s Bd, this sum representing the excess of the balance due under the contract over the sum of certain deductions, and £1560 penalties claimed for non-completion within the contract time.

The dispute was submitted to arbitration, by Mr. Gerard. The claimants' case was conducted by Mr. E. S. Grundy (Nicholson and Gribbin), and the respondent board was represented by Mr. R. P. Towle (Reed, Bailey, and Towle).. Proceedings were commenced on May 6, and completed on August 15. Ninety sit-' tings were held, and from over 30 witnesses voluminous evidence was adduced by the respective parties in support of their claims.

In his award, Mr. Gerard does not particularise the amounts judged to be due to the contractors under the headings specified in the claim, but assesses the amount in one sum of £8031 6s lid. He directs each party to pay its own costs. The arbitrator's fee, stenographers' charges, &nd the cost of preparation of the award, are to be paid, three-fifths by the Education Board, and two-fifths by the contractors.