STATE CONTRACTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 5

STATE CONTRACTS

TENDERS NOT DISCLOSED OBJECTION TO SECRECY Criticism of the secrecy observed with regard to public tenders for certain Government departmental contracts was made by members of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday, when advice was received from the Associated Chambers of Commerce that a further unsuccessful attempt had been made to get the Stores Control Board to make available to unsuccessful tenderers the prices advanced by successful tenderers. The Stores Control Board had ststsd that the present policy had been followed for a number of years and had been reviewed on several occasions, being affirmed in each instance. The board was aware that the New South Wales Government disclosed particulars of tenders, but pointed out that the policy of the British Government was similar to that adopted in New Zealand. Xf unsuccessful tenderers knew the successful price and what standard of competition they were up against, said Mr. J. A. C. Allum, it would have the effect of lowering the prices. At one time the Public Works Department published the prices tendered, but they had recently been withheld. Particulars of the successful tenders for contracts let bv the Railways Department and the Post and Telegraph Department also were unavailable to unsuccessful tenderers, yet local bodies had to open their tenders in public.