TENDER FOR WORK WAS ACCEPTED BY A COMMITTEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18581, 2 October 1928, Page 12

TENDER FOR WORK WAS ACCEPTED BY A COMMITTEE.

COUNCILLOR ASKS WHY ACTION WAS TAKEN.

Exception to the action of the Works Committee in accepting a tender before referring it to the Citj' Council for consideration was taken by Councillor J. W. Beanland at last night's meeting of the council. The Works Committee reported in connection with the sinking of 4in test bores for the foundations of the new Carlton bridge, that Messrs Osborne and Co., one of the tenderers, had suggested as an alternative the sinking of 2in bores, their price being £4 15s per bore for twenty-five feet. The committee expressed the opinion that this proposal w.ould be much quicker and recommended that it be accepted.

Councillor Beanland asked whether it was not a fact that the tender had already been accepted. He had noticed

that there was plant already on the spot. The council was being recommended to accept a tender that had already been accepted by the committee. This in his opinion was wrong. Councillor D. G. Sullivan, M.P., agreed that it was better for a committee not to accept a tender before referring it to the council, but there were cases of emergency where a committee had to act quickly and then have its action validated by the council. He agreed that this should not be done more often than necessary. Councillor Beanland: Whose tender has been accepted in this case? I cannot see that the work is urgent. Councillor Sullivan: Osborne's tender was accepted. The- City Engineer (Mr A. R. Galbraith) said that the matter was urgent. The bridge could not be proceeded with till the bores had been sunk. The quotation was a favourable one, and the work had been put in hand on the authority of Councillor Hunter, late chairman of the Works Committee. The recommendation of the committee was approved.