COAL FOR HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1935, Page 13

COAL FOR HOSPITAL

“UNDERHAND WORK” DENIED. ANSWER GIVEN TO RUMOURS. That there had been any “underhand” work in connection with the calling of tenders for coal for use at the Plymouth public hospital was strenuously denied by members of the Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. The chairman, Mr. P. E. Stainton, said the board had accepted certain tenders for coal and there had been some dissatisfaction among coal dealers in the town. The contract was accepted on tests made by the previous engineer, Mr. W. J. Dunn, under the supervision of Messrs. R. J. Deare and S. Vickers. Compared with the other tenders the present contract showed a saving of £240 to the board yearly. It was right that such scurrilous statements as were being circulated should be publicly refuted. Mr. Vickers said it was discouraging that a section of the public should question the honesty and integrity of the board. He did not think such imputations should be made against the accredited representatives of the public. The

question of coal supplies he#d received more care and consideration than any other supplies procured b£ the boardA sub-committee consisting of Mr. Deare and himself was set up to test the properties of the various coals submitted to the board, said Mr. Vickers. 'AU tests were taken under even climatic conditions. Each tenderer was asked to forward a sample truck of coal so that' there was no need for stale coal. The coal was placed in empty bunkers and weights were accepted as appeared on the railway delivery note. ' * Three coals were tested and the following were the results: A, 10 tons scwt lasted 67 hours, the hourly consumption being 342.6861 b and the cost a ton £1 5s lOd; B, 9 tons 16cwt lasted 51 hours, the hourly consumption being 430.4311 b and the cost a ton £1 3s lid; C, 9 tons lOcwt last 52 hours, the hourly consumption being 409.2301 b and the cost a ton £1 3s lid. Price of coal a day: A £3 7s Id, B £3 17s Bd, and C £jj 13s lid. The average price of B and C coals was £3 15s 9Ad and the price of A was £3 7s Id, making the yearly saving to the board on A coal over B and C £l5B 3s 4d. “In face of these figures what could the committee do but recommend the purchase of the coal now in use?” asked Mr. Vickers. “I am satisfied the board did the best business under the circumstances for the institution and therefore for the people. It is discouraging to think there is a suggestion of underhand work here.” Mr. Deare endorsed Mr. Vickers’ remarks. As far as he was aware there was not one matter dealt with by the board that was not above board. They had gone into the z matter very fully and he thought the board had done the right thing.