A MATTER OF BUSINESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6745, 17 February 1909, Page 6

A MATTER OF BUSINESS

KLECTR.IC CRANES TOR AUCKLAND. TENDER ACCEPTED. PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, February 16 When tho Harbour Board received replies to its invitation for tenders lor supplying electric cranes, the lowest tenderer was a German firm whoso price for tho twelve large cranes was i 11 .970 Tho committco recomnwuded that the tender of Messrs Babcock and Wiloox, a British firm, should be, accepted. A long discussion took place at the list meeting of the board on the recommendation of tho committee. It was pointed out that with duties Messrs Nagel and Kaempo's price would total £15,920, and Messrs Babcock and Wilcox's £16,421. It was contended that £5Ol was a large difference and the matter should be dealt with on commercial lines. It was stated, too, tihat in addition to the board saving £5Ol the State would receive £9BB through the preferential duty. A motion to rofer tho recommondation back to the committoo was defeated by seven votes to six. It was then decided te obtain tho opinion of the solicitors as to whether or not tho board could be restrained under injunction from accepting a tender of Babcock and Wilcox.

At the meeting of the board this afternoon a letter from the solicitors was road advising that there was notJiing in the Harbours Act to compel tho board to accept the lowest or any tender for machinery. Messrs John Chambers and Son, Ltd., tho local agents for Messrs Babcock and Wilcox, wrote in reference to tho duty payable on twelve electric c-anes reported at the last meeting of the board to bo £2961 4s. They stated that thoy had cabled their principals, wttio guaranteed that the duty would bo £6OO less than the estimate put before the board. This would bring the amount of duty payable on tho British n.schinery to £2361, which, added to the amount of Babcock and Wilcox's tender cf £13,460, makes a total of £15,820. By importing \arious parts under other headings than cranes a considerable reduction in duty would be effected. .Messrs Chambers also enclosed an opinion from Messrs A. L Andrews and Co., stating that quite probably a saving of from £4O to £SO upon each crane could be effected. The chairman said tfhe only reason tiiia matter had beer, referred back was because there wa3 some doubt as to the legality of giving the tender to Messrs Babcock and Wilcox. That doubt had been removed now and, moreover, from the correspondence which had been read it appeared that tho English cranes would be even cheaper than the German. He therefore moved that the tender of Messrs Baby>ck and Wilcox be accepted. Mr Basley seconded the motion, and 3aid that a British firm should get the tender.

Mr W. J. Napier moved, and MiKeys sooonded an amendment, that the matter be referred to the Works Committee. The amendment was lost by seven votes to five, and the motion for the acceptance of Babcock and Wilcox's tender was agreed to.