GOVERNMENT TENDERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17156, 5 October 1926, Page 2

GOVERNMENT TENDERS

REASON FOR SECRECY At a meeting of the Dunedin Manufacturers' Association reference was made to the much discussed question of the Government's actum in refusing to divulge the names of the'successful tenderers for the Government stores and the price accepted. Members contended 'that* the chief factors' influencing the Government in this attitude ' were the hope of cut rate prices and the fear that private users of similar goods would, naturally enough, consider that they should get their sup•pjics at a similar rate. It was also pointed out that tenderers in many eases of this sorfe made special requests to 1 the Government, and that, if successful, their flames should not be divuljbd to the trade, similarly requesting that the accepted price should not be made known. Another aspect of the case was put forward-by a member who said that, if cut prices word accepted and later made public, the association with which the successful tenderer was connected might feel inclined to discipline him. That was another reason for the secrecy that was observed. It-was eventually decided to ask the Government to advise unsuccessful tenderers of the names of those who were successful and also to divulge' the price contained in their tenders.