UNFAIR RULES OF CONTRACT ALLEGED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19154, 21 August 1930, Page 9

UNFAIR RULES OF CONTRACT ALLEGED.

P.W.D. SCHEDULES SAID TO PENALISE TENDERERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 21. Complaints of unfairness in the conditions of contract used in respect to public works were made to-day to the Government through the Minister of Railways by a deputation from the New Zealand Federated Builders and Contractors’ Association.

It was pointed out that the conditions of contract provided that, should any schedules of quantities or other information be supplied to contractors, they were intended only for the assistance of the contractor in checking his own estimate, and that no claim of any kind would be allowed should they be found inaccurate or incomplete. The contractor was required to rectify any mistakes before tendering.

It was submitted that these clauses violated the cardinal principles of British justice, inasmuch as the contractor was made responsible for the inaccuracies of the Public Works Department’s engineers.

The Minister said he could not make a definite promise outside his own department: and, as the representations concerned other Ministers, and, indeed, t:> some extent the whole Government, it seemed to him that they would have to be considered by Cabinet. He would confer with the Minister of Public Works. Then Cabinet might consider whether the Government was justified in relaxing the regulations in accordance with the representations. As far as the Railway Department was concerned, they were already considering the conditions of contract. The requests of the deputation would be taken into consideration. He promised that a reply would be furnished after the matter had been fully considered.