"NO CHECK ON COST."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 5

"NO CHECK ON COST."

CONTRACT AND DAY LABOUR. KICCARTON TOWN HALL. The Riccarton Burgesses' Association met 011 Thursday night to.discuss tho decision of the Riccarton Borough Council to erect the new town hall and municipal offices bv day labour instead of calling for tenders for the work. Mr R. W. Brigliting presided, and there was a good attendance. The following motion was proposed: "That this Association strongly protests against the intention of tho Riccarton Borough Council to erect the town hall and offices by day labour. ' Several members stated that the clay labour method would make tho work more expensive than if the work were carried out by contract. Councillor Ford, of the Riccarton Borough Council, said that he was ono of the two who voted on the Council to have tho work done by contract. Ho was anxious to have the work don© as cheaplv as possible, but if the Council employed day labour, and did not •call for tenders, thero would bo no check on the cost. To call for tenders simply to arrive at tho value of tho work would be manifestly unjust. He wanted tho Council to call for tenders, and, should it eventually be decided not to accept a tender, tho usual rate should be paid to tho lowest tenderer. . Another member of tho meeting said that if the Council did the work by dav labour it would have to incur tho expense of scaffolding, etc., which would be useless when the building was finished. Several other members also protested against tho action of the Council, and it was decided to hold another meeting to discuss the position.