TENDERERS’ PROTEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 12, 15 January 1932, Page 10

TENDERERS’ PROTEST

DUNEDIN POST OFFICE PUT TO GREAT EXPENSE The indefinite postponement of the building of Dunediu’s new post office has caused no little concern to builders and contractors in other towns as well as in Dunedin, who had gone to great expense and trouble to prepare tenders for a work of such magnitude. Interviews given to the Christchurch Press showed a general opinion that the Government might at least nave given notification of the abandonment of the work earlier than a single day before the closing of tenders. As it is, the various tenderers, of wnom there are a fair number in Christchurch, have been put to the expense of preparing their estimates, and just when the task is about to be completed, after some months of calculation, they have beer informed that a sudden decision of the Government has made tneir work use less. The expense involved In tendering for such a great work is considerable Indeed, it is estimated that the tota z cost of preparing estimates on the part of three builders, together with their sub-contractors and surveyors, will amount to about £lOOO. Even should the Government decide to build the post office next year, the Changed conditions would make it necessary to prepare an entirely new sei of costs, involving the outlay of similar sums again. When the number of tenderers the whole Dominion is taken into consideration it is certain that trie postponement of the work at such a late hour will cost building firms some thousands of pounds. The principal of one important firm of contractors in Christchurch saijt that while the Government was apparently forced to make every possinle economy, it had apparently lost signt ot tho fact, that the expenditure of £200,000 on the post office would bo spread over three, four, or even five yeap-i. The annual outlay would therefore not be nearly so considerable a sum. Other builders emphasised the loss of employment caused by the Government’s decision. It was estimated that in Dunedin alone more than 200 men, at present without regurar employment, would be employed for periods ranging up to three years, and the work would by no means be restricted to skilled labour. Of the whole cost an amount of £150,000 was expecteo to be spent in wages throughout the country.