BUY BRITISH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17241, 24 April 1930, Page 11

BUY BRITISH

POWER BOARD'S DECISION CHAIRMAN'S CRITICISM "NOT DONE PRTVATITLY" "I am strongly in favor of keeping our trade within the British Empire." "I don't sec much evidence of British preference in private life. If people can purchase cheaper in other markets, they don't support British goods. Local bodies should, not be expected to support British preference if privately its ratepayers do not follow the same practice." These .statements, directly opposite in tone, were made to-day at the meeting of the Poverty Bay Power Board, the first being heard from Mr. S. V. Beaufoy, :uul the second from the chairman. Mr. F. R. Ball. The board was considering tenders for the supply of (dock-switches, and of the four received the two most suitable concerned British-made and Swiss-made articles. The Swiss switch was quoted at a price that represented a, difference of £5(3 on the order, as compared with the British article, but on the motion of Mr. Beaufoy it was decided to lake the more expensive switches, in. order to maintain the principle of British preference. The chairman pointed out that the difference of £5(5 was on an order that meant only £360, and that in pursuance of the Imperial preference principle the board would increase its costs 'about 14 per cent, on this one order. Tenders had been called for the supply of the switches, and they should accept the lowest tender for a type of switch recommended by their engineer. The, .Swiss switch was as well recommended as the other, and if they were going to practice preference in the selection .of the tenders, they should limit tenders to British firms only.

Mr. T. Corson supported the chairman's attitude, holding that they would not be doing their duty to the ratepayers if they failed to accept the lowest tender for a well-rccommendcd switch. However, only Messrs. Ball and Corson were opposed to the proposal to give the order to the British firm, and the motion was carried over their votes.

At a later stage in flic proceedings, when tenders for cable supplies were under consideration, it was found that a, British (inn. had tendered, somewhat below any other for a certain type of cable, and this lender was accepted without argument. Mr. Beaufoy commented, when the motion was carried, that they could make up a little on the other contract, bul the chairman replied ilia!, the board had paid £.")0 more than it need have done, for the switches, no matter at what price they procured' the cable. TENDERS ACCEPTED

NO FOREIGN SUPPLIES In respect of all materials with the exception of the clock-switches, the board was able to accept a tender from an Empire course without- having to make any financial sacrifice. The'difference between foreign tenders and the successful British tender was in no case large, but it was'usually in favor of tho Empire article. Two grades of cable, bare and insulated, were the .subject of tenders brought before the board, and that of Samuel Brown arid l Co., an English firm, was accepted at £174 for bare cable, the nearest of the other tenders Loing £195. A Canadian firm, Goife, Gofl'e, and tlamer, received the contract for insulated cable, at £173 18s, the next best tender' being £l7B. • For seven, transformers there were three tenders, the British firm, A. ]). Riley ami'Co.. securing the contract at £345', the nearest of the other tenders with the engineer's recommendation being £366. Canadian and English firms tendered' for the supply of house meters, and tho board left it in the hands of the engineer to consult the tenderers by cable as to revision of their tenders, in view of apparent misapprehensions as to the basis of the contract.