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The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning .

Saturday, March 23, 1889.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

HARBOB WORKS AND CONTRACTS. Wx cannot too often press upon the attention of the public the motion which is to come up at the next meeting of the Harbor Board, having for its object, though not plainly stating so, the letting of the remainder of the breakwater structure by contract, instead of continuing the present system. Now, we always state what we think, without any beating about the bush, or advising in one sentence that such and such a course should be taken and in the next nullifying that advice with an opposite view. The question is plain enough, ought the Board to acquiesce in the proposed departure or ought the majority of members to decide in an adverse direction ? Our opinion is that they will do the best in the interests of the ratepayers by not at the present time interfering with the system under which the works are being’ carried out. We do not consider the members of the Board to be mere babes and sucklings, as a cynical writer has classed them; and if we did think they were in any way deserving of such reference, honesty would compel us to ask them to immediately resign. But then the source from whence it comes is sufficient refutation. Our memory carries us back to a time when the same journal would hear nothing of contracting, when the sole aim and object of its existence appeared to be to denounce the wickedness of the system applied to harbor construction. All that is conveniently forgotton, and now, when the opportunity has gone by, when there are only a few thousand pounds in hand, and when the work is going on in a way which everyone must admire, the same voice is raised in support of an opposite view. Why ? In plain language because Messrs Bennett and Shelton are known to be of opinion that the contract system would be the best even at this late period. Anyone who says those two gentlemen are babies must be a lunatic or a perverter of the truth. At the same time it is just possible other people may not agree with their opinions on the subject in question. We do not, and we believe the majority of ratepayers would decide against it. It is no use harking back as to what might have been done at an earlier stage, nor is it wise to hold out the prospect that the present expenditure will not be limited to the upon which a vote of the ratepayers was taken. All those considerations are put aside for the time being. With the hope of getting things done a little cheaper, it is proposed to disorganise the present system and parcel the work out into sectional contracts.

During the correspondence that has taken place on the subject we are sorry to see that imputations have been introduced ; there has been too much of that sort, of thing in connection with harbor matters, and if any subject cannot be discussed without resort to the mud throwing tactics, those anonymous writers who cannot refrain from it should lay down their pen in shame at the way they have been soiling the paper. Among other statements made, ■there was an insinuation that it was to the interests of the Engineer and the employees to make the work drag on as long as possible. If they were capable of such a thing now—which is hardly worth denying—the Engineer at any rate might do it much better under a system of sectional contracts. At present the Board can very easily attend to anything of the kind. Imputations have been made that a “ commission ” business is intended, meaning we suppose that there would be more “ pickings ” to be made out of contractors than there would be out of the Board. This charge also may be dismissed as the emanation of a wicked mind. The whole question is one that requires to be decided simply by common sense.

We will suppose the work is let in four sections. The successful tenderers will have to find bonds, they will have to make allowances for all contingencies, they will have to allow for expenses of management, and in addition a good profit will be required, for otherwise the risk would not be worth undertaking. In case of failure the Board will have to submit to all kinds of vexations, which they have not been able to avoid in smaller works; besides this, at least the Engineer and diver will have to be maintained. On personal grounds all this ought to be agreeable to the Engineer, for it would relieve him of much responsibility in regard to details.

On the other hand if the Board is its own contractor no such allowance would require to be made; the only consideration in reality would be the workmen’s wages and the purchase of cement. If the wages were reduced to half, it would most likely result in losing double what was thought to be saved, and the ratepayers would not put up with that sort of thing. As to the purchase of cement, etc., the members have the supervision of that, and ought to be capable of doing so satisfactorily—if not, the ratepayers have themselves to blame for electing them. The only prospect we can see of a saving by the proposed change is a reduction of the workmen’s wages on the part of the contractors or a gain that will come out of the contractors’ pockets. In the circumstances, it will be far better that the Board should be its own contractor in regard to the main structure.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GSCCG18890323.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 277, 23 March 1889, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
978

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday, March 23, 1889. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 277, 23 March 1889, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday, March 23, 1889. Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 277, 23 March 1889, Page 2

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