PURCHASING OF STORES

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1931, Page 9

PURCHASING OF STORES

’PRICES TO GOVERNMENT SECRET, i • ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS PROTEST. By Telegraph—Press Association. f Wellington, Oct. 5. Further endeavours are to be made by the Associated Chambers of Commercs to have the Government Stores Control Board disclose prices submitted by successful tenderers. At a meeting to-day of tho Wellington executive a letter was. read from the chairman of the control board in which it was stated that at a recent meeting of the board the question' was again reviewed and the present policy of reserving the right to disclose or treat as confidential the prices paid for stores was reaffirmed. It was intimated that the British Government’s policy was to treat prices as confidential, information being disclosed only in those cases where publication was required by statute. », Executive members said this was no reason why : the practice should be followed in New Zealand. The British Government did not invite tenders indiscriminately for specific requirements and only certain firms were'eligible to tender.. Representatives of overseas firms were entitled to obtain informal tion in regard to tenders to forward to their principals. In the case of England the actual supplier was right at the door and could obtain the. information required through its own trade organisations. That was impossible in. New Zealand and probably had been overlooked by the Stores Control Board. If the' prices were disclosed it would be beneficial to the Government and would create competition and' confidence in the board. There could be nd real obection t othe publication of tenders;