FREEZING WORKS

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 15

FREEZING WORKS

DISCUSSED BY HARBOUR BOARD. TENDERS TO BE CALLED. Afc the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last week the following report on the subiect of freezing works was submitted by the sub-committee: —"Your committee does not overlook the fact that on March 28 it was resolved to put the works in thorough up-to-date order to meet the requirements of the port, but this decision was arrived at conseauent on it being assumed that the cost, would be from £IO,OOO to £II,OOO. It is now found, however, that the resident engineer estimates that to erect new works on present-day prices the cost would be in the region of £15,000. In view of th"e_ increased estimated cost and the fact that it is probable that the board will lose the business of n large client, your committee is of the opinion that the advisability of proceeding further with the matter is questionable : and it therefore submits the foregoing for the board's consideration and direction. Mr Galbralth moved the adootion of the report, and said that owinc \x> the increased expenditure the committee was not prepared

to go on without furt'v*> consideration by tho board. Tho Wa:fca?.i Dairy Company had approached them x>me time ago to ascertain whether accoiamodation would be available for the season's butter. The committee could not give the company any assurance that the works would be' ready; in fact, it thought they would not be ready. That had placed the company in tho position of having to make other arrangements, and it had been in touch with the South Island Dairy Association. The committee did not know how far matters had gone. The company had written stating that until the committee could give it somo definite advice as to whether the works were going on it could say nothing further. There was a prospect of the board getting a good return from the works, but if it did not get this butter for storage there was a prospect that it would not mako a profit. There was a prospect of getting fruit for export, and the works would be suitable for various things.

Mr Moller said they ought to call for fresh tenders on the same conditions as last.

> Mr Loudon said the committee was quite right in deciding not to go on with the work. At the time tho board decided to ro-erect the works at a cost of from £IO,OOO to £12,000 ho had said ho was satisfied that if the board did that, and was not prepared to run the works itself, it could lease them at a price that would return a profit on the outlay. But when the cost increased to £15,000 he was not quite certain about that. He was not certain that proper works could not be erected at £12,000. He was told that first-class works could be put up at slightly over £IO,OOO. There was no reason why they should not have specifications of the works and call for tenders for them. Ho thought they should have a special meetings of the board, and moved accordingly.

Mr M'Donald seconded this, and said the question was whether the works were required or not. Mr Galbraith expressed the opinion that they should call for tenders. Mr Jjoudon said there would be very little additional expenso in calling for tenders. He withdrew big previous amendment, and moved that tho committee proceed with the specifications and call for tenders. This was seconded by Mr M'Donald, and after some further discussion was carried.