Local Builders Could

Handle More Work

From a Suva Correspondent Adverse comment on the wernment’s attitude in invit- I outside tenders for works in ji was made at a June meeting the Suva Chamber of Corn ice. ["EMBERS said that the Govern- L ment called for outside tenders en local firms were quite capable carrying out the work.

Mention was made of the Lautoka ;h School work, where bids were cited and received from overseas is. None was successful; the tract being awarded to Whan istruction Co. of Suva.

Nevertheless, said the Suva Cham , why call at all for overseas lers when the unemployment blem in Fiji is getting worse every 7 'he Government has made a reply this (and it is worth noting in >ing that the Government does y quite often nowadays to this of thing, whereas in the past it ally remained rather haughtily )f). It said that it advertised rseas only for particular projects ch were not the type of work Dally carried out by Fiji con tors. was nice to get an answer, but e are plenty of business critics > say that it is merely nonsense, re are firms in Fiji which have the know-how and in some cases ost all the equipment to carry any of the jobs which have so far i done by overseas firms—and includes the Lautoka and Suva rves.

II that is wanted is equipment, with the help of a forward think- Government, this obstacle can be lounted, to everybody’s benefit, he critics ask what was especially rent about the Nadi airport exten or the Lautoka wharf, which nd-large were concrete jobs. Two y building jobs at Nadi were carried out by a local sub ractor—that is, the control tower the sewerage treatment plant, both were finished months er than similar jobs were finished few Zealand. any contractors think that the ernment is unduly concerned it importing brains from overseas work that could be done here.