THE CHAMBERS PROPOSALS

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1017, 25 June 1898, Page 2

THE CHAMBERS PROPOSALS

Was This the Bank of New Zealand Also?

This device having failed, a new lsane altogether was raised by the opening of a fresh set of proposals from John Chambers and Son. These had been received between four and five o'clock that afternoon, after the order paper for the night'B business was prepared. Messrs Chambers and Son went one better than Mr Bingharn. In nearly every detail of his scheme they outdid him to a certain extent, and there was no possible doubt in the minds of anyone that however libaral Mr Bingham's proposals were, those of the Messrs Chambers were even more so. , But with scarcely an exception the Council condemned in vigorous language the morality of trying to work in a new scheme altogether at the twelfth hour.

And it was what might fairly be termed questionable morality. Here, for quite two years, the Council and its committee had been sitting time after time discussing one set of proposals after another, until- finally, after much anxiety and the loss of a great deal of valuable time, it had decided upon one that met with the approval of the Councillors, was satisfactory

to the ratepayers, and one also that was likely to be carried into effect. All this time Messrs Chambers and Son were living in the town and knew what was going on, bat made no attempt to approach the Council with a scheme of their own. After the proposals' by Messrs Bingham and Epatein had .been made pnblio, however, and as soon as Messrs Chambers and Son knew just what the Conncil was willing to accept, they bobbed np serenely with their scheme.

~ And what was their Bcheme ? Simply Mr Bingham's proposals with a few figures altered. The elaboration of this scheme had cost Mr Bingham mnch anxious thought and a great deal of valuable time. He had taken up his abode in Auckland for several months, in order to meet the committee and discuss his plans with them. And finally, after his brains had been sacked, and he had spent time and money in placing a sound and workable tramway scheme before the committee, and the committee had recommended its adoption to the Gonncil, Messrs John Chambers and Son coolly atepped in with a full knowledge of the negotiations and the terms that had been arrived at, and offered to give slightly better terms for the right to construct the tramways.

"We say John Chambers and Son because their.name was signed to the letter. But something strongly resembling the fine Roman hand of the Bank of New Zealand — which has appeared again and again in the successive proposals throughout these negotiations — obtruded itself in this letter of John Chambers and Son. The Messrs Chambers offered to commence the construction of the tramways within two months or forfeit £1000, and to complete them within thirteen months. Now, how in the name of common sense could the Messrs Chambers guarantee to commence work within two months under a penalty of £1000 unless they had arranged with the Bank of New Zealand for possession of the existing tramways ? Alao,if an option had already been granted over the tramways, why had the Bank of New Zealand come to such an arrangement with the Messrs Chambers ? Moreover, how could the Bankot New Zealand undertake the business of converting the tramways if it had previously given an option over them to one party and immediately afterwards promised them to another ?

One thousand pounds is a substantial sum of money, and Messrs John Chambers and Son are not the people to forfeit such a tidy amount unless they bad a hard-and-fast agreement with the Bank of New Zealand. All of which makes as think there is far too much Bask of ITew Zealand altogether about this business. Chambers and Son naively confessed in a letter to the Star that they were not in a pp3ition to make their proposal until the morning of the Council meeting, and if our memory serves us right, it was a bout the same time- that the rejection of the Epstein scheme was made known. Also, it was on that morning that th« Obseever published Mr T. L. Murray's letter saying the Bank had finally and absolutely sold the tramways to Mr Epstein, and Mr Murray, being reminded of that letter, knew how futile would be his attempt to approach the Council again as owner of the tramways.

Needless to say, the City Council gave the Chambers proposals almighty short shrift. The Conncillora didn't like the too confident tone of the letter about getting possession of the tramways in two months.. It suggested B.N Z. in every line. Also, they recognised that though their duty was to get the be3t term 3 they could for the ratepayers, Mr Bingham had nevertheless rights in the matter that ought to be respected, and that it would be immoral and dishonest to reopen, the question at such a Btage. Throughout the whole of these negotiations the Council has been straightforward and honourable in its dealings, and it waa strictly so to the end. ¥c have reason to believe that strong ontaide forces were brought to bear to influence its decision, and that these have been unsuccessful is evidenced by the sound and excellent bargain the Council has made on behalf of the ratepayers.