BRISCOE MACNEIL & CO.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2885, 24 October 1895, Page 2

BRISCOE MACNEIL & CO.

(Wellington correspondent of Press.) For several weeks past the commercial community has been exercised about certain alleged proceedings before the Public Accounts Committee concerning the business relations between the Government and Messrs Briscoe, Macndi). & Co. On Tuesday afternoon the report of the Committee was laid on the table. The Committee find (1) that on the 31st day of January, 1895, the Government, through the Public Works Department, entered into a contract with Messrs Briscoe, Macneil & Co. for the supply of general ironmongery, iron, steel, ship chandlery, cement, lime, drain pipes, and tents for the current year ending the 31st December, 1895; (2) that it had been alleged by one James Hendry Jenkins, a former employee of the contractors, that in carrying out the said contract they wilfully made certain overcharges and mistakes of weights and measures in respect of goods supplied; (3) the Committee have sat for twenty-two days hearing evidence, and have examined twenty witnesses for and against the allegations made ; (4) from the evidence given by the said J. H. Jenkins aud Messrs GeUatly (manager) and Bridson (ironmonger) for the contractors, and Messrs Blow, Wilson, Ibbetsou, Turner, and Biddell, officers in the Government service, the Committee find that there has been carelessness aud looseness on the part of the contractors in connection with the delivery of goods under the said contract, and for these irregularities the Committee consider the manager and servants of the contractors responsible, but there is no evidence of fraud on the part of the contractors ; (5) the Committee find that there was a number of errors in the vouchers sent by the contractors to the Government. These errors consisted for the most part of errors in weight and price, or were owing to wrong or inferior goods being supplied. They were, however, iu many instances satisfactorily explained. But m connection with the supply of tents, an instance was brought before the Committee in which very inferior touts were supplied iu lieu of tents according to the sample ordered by the Government; (6) the Committee also find that, under the terms of the contract, the several Government departments have the right to order and take separate delivery of goods. The Committee also find that the Railway aud Ma/ine Departments maintain efficient checks upon goods received from contractors. The Public Works aud Lands Survey Departments each exercise a fair check on goods supplied, where delivery is taken at Wellington. When, however, goods are sent by the contractors to the of the several departments outside Wellington, the Committee are of opinion that the present system of check is defective; (7) the Committee, therefore, recommend that a more efficient system of checks should be established by the Government, whereby all goods purchased should iu the first place be taken delivery of at central stores in the several chief cities, aud afterwards distributed to the different departments for the works as required. While such a system might entail some extra expense in handling goods, yet tho Committee consider a greater compensating benefit would accrue to the colony by tho safer aud more satisfactory management of such important and necessary annual business; (8) during the course of the investigation it came to the knowledge of the Committee that the managing partner at Wellington of Briscoe, McNeil & Co. had been accepted by tho Government as bondsman for the proper carrying out of their contract. The Committee think that this is objectionable, aud that a bondsman should have no interest or partnership in any contract with the Government. W. J. M. Larnaoh, Chairman.” Upon the report being read a discussion followed upon a motion to have the report and evidence printed and discussed on Friday next, during which the Premier accused Mr G. Hutchison of being engaged iu raking up everything he could to harass the Government. Mr Hutchison retorted that the Premier had burked enquiry into tho matter. He admitted having sought the enquiry,aud the Public Aocouuts Committee had unanimously supported his action. The Premier made light of the whole business, and declared that there was only a paltry sum of £4 in dispute; and that the whole matter had been exaggerated by the representative of a rival firm that had been an unsuccessful tenderer. Captain Russell said that he had been shown a list of some of the items iu dispute, which showed that gross irregularity had taken place somewhere, and he wanted an assurance from the Premier that the House should have an opportunity of discussing the matter fully. There was a principle involved iu the matter, which showed that the interests of some people were totally disregarded by the Government. After members had perused the evidence they should have an opportunity of discussing the question. Sir R. Stout did not think that tho evidence warranted the conclusion that tho Committee had come to. Tho report was stronger against Briscoe, Macneil & Co. than the evidence warranted. After some further discussion, during which tho Premier implied that tho whole affair was the result, of trade jealousy, the House unanimously agreed to debate tho matter on Friday. In tho meantime the report and evidence are to be printed aud circulated.