Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01868:reg:2016:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2021L01868
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2016 (pt 7/11)
Character Range: 542425–545295

drawings. Where a

    94      Tender documents submitted to the Federal Capital Commission, Canberra, September 1926. CRS A292/1, item C2202 Part 1
    95      ibid. Memorandum HM Rolland to The Secretary, Federal Capital Commission, 18 August 1926.
  dispute arose over sizes, the figures on the drawings were to be followed rather than the scaled dimensions.96

  Before any materials were to be cut, the working drawings and setting out boards were required to be inspected by an officer from the Federal Capital Commission. Nothing was left to chance. Each item of furniture was required to be marked with a reference number to correspond to its drawing. The letters 'C.P.H.' (Commonwealth Parliament House) and the drawing number were required to be marked in a uniform position on each piece of furniture. On some items, the mark was impressed with a stamp into the timber, on others the code was stencilled in black ink on the underside of the item.97

  The administration of such a large project over three states obviously created difficulties for its management and quality control. Furniture contracts were subdivided into sections and awarded to successful tenderers on the basis of price and their ability to meet the deadline for the staged delivery of furniture, commencing 31 January 1927 and concluding no later 14 February 1927, although extensions were granted to the end of March to all major contractors who experienced difficulties in meeting the original deadlines. Provision was made in the contract for regular inspections of work in progress by authorised officers of the Federal Capital Commission, who were empowered to reject unsatisfactory work.

  On 14 January 1927, the Assistant Furniture Officer, R Rowe, reported on his visit to Adelaide and Melbourne.98 He found that it was necessary to make minor adjustments to bring the workmanship and finish to a uniform standard. In this he was guided by the specifications in the contracts which clearly documented the requirements. These included:

Item                  requirement
Materials:            The Furniture, Fittings and Materials must be of Australian or British manufacture, free of all defects, and the best of their several kinds.
Labour:               The whole of the furniture is to be made in registered factories by Australian or European labour only. Any part of the work not so made will be rejected.
Marking of articles:  For identification purposes on delivery each article is to be marked with a symbol number and also the number of the drawing from which it is made.
Timber:               All articles to be made throughout of timber indicated in the schedules, unless otherwise specified and must be to the finishes specified. All timber must be first grade, thoroughly seasoned, free from heart, sapwood, shakes and knots and must be picked for grain. Where