TENDERS FOR BREAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24629, 10 June 1941, Page 4

TENDERS FOR BREAD

HOSPITAL BOARD CONTRACT BAKERS APPROACH CHAIRMAN (P.A.) AUCKLAND. June 9. “I consider*that this strikes at the root of tendering,” said Mr Allan J. Moody, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, to-day, when tenders for the supply of bread to the hospital .came before a meeting of the board. “Three days ago,” Mr Moody'said, “three leading bakers rang up the secretary asking to see me in order to discuss the question of their firms arranging to supply bread for four .months each. I was horrified to think that this was the way of doing things in Auckland, and I refused to see them. I now find to-night that the three firms have tendered on the same form stipulating the same conditions and terms. It is the most impudent effrontery I have ever seen.”. Stating that he had never yet seen tenderers beforehand and did not intend to do so, the chairman then moved that the board should readvertise for tenders for the supply of bread. Flour was under Government control, said Mr J. H. Kinnear, and the bakers could not be expected to cut their own throats. They were working under difficult conditions, and had to do what the Government said. Mr J. Guiniven: What we object to ‘ is their approaching the chairman. The motion to readvertise for tenders was carried.