TENDER REJECTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20251, 10 May 1929, Page 13

TENDER REJECTED.

LOWEST PRICE FOR WORK.;

QUEEN STREET CONTRACT.

COMPLAINT MADE BY BUILDER

" This matter involves more than nnfair treatment; it damages one's reputation as a builder." This statement was made yesterday by Mr. H. C. Nicholls, builder, of Auckland, who complained that his tender for an important Queen Street contract, although tho lowest, was not accepted. Mr. Nicholls said that ho put in a tender, accompanied by a deposit cheque for £l5O, for tho work of alterations to Mr. J. R. McKenzio's Queen Street building. Messrs. Holman, Moses and Watkin, architects for Mr. McKenzie, callod for tenders, which closed at 3 p.m. on May 6. " There weie nine tenderers altogether, and my price of £10,670 was the lowest," Mr. Nicholls stated. " The contract was given to the Fletcher Construction Company, whose price was £10,989. Tho prices ranged from my figure up to £15,000." Mr. Nicholls contended that if a firm of architects calls public tenders, plans and specifications should not be given to builders, unless the lowest tenderer was to receive the contract. He had the plans for the work for three days and two nights to measure from. After that, he spent a day and a-half in extending quantities and prices, and finally making up his tender.

" Thus, I spent practically five days in computing a tender for the work," Mr. Nicholls added. " A great risk, as any builder knows, is entailed in measuring from the plan, and further risks arise in extending quantities and calculating. I think I was most unfairly treated." Mr. Nicholls addod that the fact that he was lowest tenderer and did not obLain the contract reflected on his professional ability. He had been a builder in Auckland for the past 25 years, and had carried out more than £500,000 worth of work. His buildings included tho Auckland Training College at Mount Eden, Ambury's milk bottle factory at Epsom, Grafton Bridge Flats, Wesley Training College at Paerata, Women's Infirmary at Epsom, Grey Lynn Library, a number of city schools, warehouses and various public buildings.