asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether tenders have recently been invited for the construction of parts of a high-power wireless' station; if the date at which these tenders were invited was previous to the decision of the Government as announced by the Prime Minister; whether the tender were invited by public advertisement; if not by public advertisement, what firms were asked to tender;(2), whether tenders will be invited for the construction of the whole or any part of the high-power wireless station which is to be owned and operated by the State in accordance with the announcement of the Prime Minister; whether such tenders will be invited by public advertisement or only from selected firms; and, if only from selected firms, will the names of the firms invited be made public?
Invitations to tender for the construction of the masts, eight hundred feet in height, required for the high-power wireless station, to be owned and operated by the State, were issued on the 1st November last to 15 approved firms, namely:
- Sir W. Arrol and Co.
- Messrs. R. W. Blackwell and Co.
- Messrs. Braithwaite and Co.
- Messrs. Bullen Bros. and Co.
- Messrs. C. F. Elwell, Ltd.
- Messrs. Alec. Findlay and Co.
- Messrs. Head, Wrightson and Co.
- Messrs. Horseley Bridge and Engineering Co., Ltd.
- Messrs. E. C. and L. Keay, Ltd.
- Messrs. Motherwell Bridge Co.
- Messrs. Powers and Deane Ransome, Ltd.
- Messrs. Stewart and Lloyds.
- Messrs. Tees Side Bridge and Engineering Works, Ltd.
- Messrs. Joseph Westwood and Co.
- The Widnes Foundry Co.