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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 4 June 1872, Page 3

A correspondent of the Canterbury " Press" thus advocates the system of open contracts, as opposed to the Brogden monopoly proposed by .Mr. Vogel : — ''In connection with this matter I may inform you that the General Government have already seen the error of their ways, and are, in future, to call for public tenders, as is done in all civilized communities, and not in the c'ande.>tine manner they have been doing. This is no mere assertion, sir, it is a fact ; and if you wish it I will satisfy you of its truth. I sincerely hope, therefore, that an opportunity will be givon to all contractors to tender for any projected railway works in this province, for with a healthy competition we may expect to get them constructed thousands of pounds cheaper. True, our present Provincial Secretary expressed himself at a public' meeting, convened to protest against the lirogden contracts, that he was always -in favour of public tendering by local contractors, and I tirnst he will not forget it. In my opinion it do :s not matter whether it be local contractors or not, so that everything be done fair and above board, and ;u an honourable manner to all contractors concerned. As regards colonial contractors, take for instance the Clnfcha railway, in the province of Ota'-To. If I remember rightly, the lowest offer received by ihe agent who was sent to England by the Otago Provincial (government to reeivc offers to construct "this work, was ill):")(.),0(10 ; and now we have proof before us that the whole line will bo completed by local contractois for less than :)r) ! .),O'K). And, as another instance, take the first railway works undertaken by the Government of Victoria. These were all tendered for in an open manner, and it was said at, the time that no colonial contrarTior could build them—thtifc ifc must, b" an l*lnyli.sh -firm or nothing. Tt opened the eve-; of our Victorian neighbours, however, when two c >lonial firms offered to construct them for two and a quarter millions less than the lowest tender sent in by any Knglish firm.