The Locomotive Contract.

Southland Times, Issue 9131, 2 February 1886, Page 2

The Locomotive Contract.

[BY TELEGRAPff.J j Chbistchurch; Feb. 1. ' At a largely-attended special general meeting of the Industrial Aspociation held to-night the report of a subcommittee, j completely exonerating Messrs Scott Bros, from any attempt to infringe the condi- .-! tions of their contract with the New Zea- ■ land Government for the construction of '-' locomotives, was unanimously adopted, . and a deputation was appointed to ask tbe Minister for Public Works to inspect the material which has been condemned by tho inspector. Thef ollowing ia the special clause stated to be infringed : "The number tf engines required undei tT. is contract is 10, which, with the exception of these portions supplied by the Government, and the gauges are to be wholly manufactured within the colony of New Zeaiaud from the raw material, such as pig, plate, bar, and' angle iron, and no castings or forcings or other poi tions shall be imported either in a rough finished or unfinished state." - The sub-committee reported that having inspected the rejected material, they consider as regards the iron and copper plates and' ** angle iron tbat it is ordinary commercial iron as supplied to engineers' in "^ogland ; that as regards the side frames, bogie frames and. otber -pa r ts, on which the pin or steering (sic) machine has been at work, they consider that the aim of the Govern ment in the clause above quoted is to ensure to the colonial workman that his interest shall not be prejudiced by having work done on the material jin England wbich could have been done here, and that from this point of view the condition has not been infringed, as nothing bas been done to lessen the amount of labour to be expended on these parts in the colony. Further, that these parts cannot be condemned under the working of the conditions referred to, as tbey are not in a fiaiflhed or even partly fiuished state.