TROUBLE OVER TENDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 12

TROUBLE OVER TENDER.

THE": MANGONUI HOSPITAL. THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION. [BY TELEGTtAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] KAITAIA. Friday. A special meeting of the Mangonui Hospital Board was held recently to discuss a position which has arisen in connection with tenders for the electric-lighting plant for the hospital. The chairman, Mr. R. T. Wrathall, explained that after the previous meeting, at which Messrs. Anderson and Co.'s tender was cancelled, and Messrs. Turnbull and Jones' accepted, Messrs. Anderson and Co. telegraphed threatening legal proceedings. The clerk, Mr. JtsKinnon, stated that when he received .Messrs. Anderson and Co.'s telegram he immediately informed the chairman, who instructed him to proceed with the acceptance of Messrs. Turnbull and Jones' tender. He advised against such a course and declined to carry out the instruction unless it was given by telegram by the chairman. That was done. Members generally criticised the chairman's action in going on with Messrs. Turnhull and Jones' tender without calling the board together. The board, it was snid, might possibly have to pay for two electric plants. The board's solicitor advised cancelling all the tenders arid calling fresh ones. Mr. F. Banks moved a vote of censure on the chairman for his action in the matter, and this was seconded by Mr. .J. N. Berghan. Mr. A. H. Long said he did not care to vote for a censure motion on the chairman at the final meeting of the board as then constituted. The vote of censure was lost on the casting vote of the chairman. The secretary's action was confirmed.