POLITICAL NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1796, 8 July 1913, Page 6

POLITICAL NOTES.

SMALL CONTRACT SYSTEM. - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. A statement made to a Dominion reporter last/ evening by the Hon. W. I'raser (Minister for Publio Works) throws Boino light upon, tho nature of tho reform which is now being effected in the methods of carrying out publio works; Mr. •Fraser made it-clear that the new system of small contracts which he is introducing will embody all the good features of the co-operative system, while avoiding its faults. Tho new system is one under which small groups of men will be afforded facilities tor taking up contracts which they will carry out in co-operative cofpartnership. There is no intention, the Minister stated, of introducing a system under which ono man would reap a profit at the expense of the other members of the contracting group. Such a proposal had never been entertained. One important feature of the'new system would do that every facility would bo given to 'competent workmen to group together. Faulty administration of the co-operative system in past years had given rise to Buch abuses as good workmen being exploited' by incompetent or indifferent '.workmen. There would be no more of [this. In addition, tho present Minister Shas arranged for the thorough inspection 'of public works from end to end of the ('Dominion, and for tho presentation of Ireporta upon their progress at regular 'intervals.

, A complaint that somo country memrbers have advanced against the administration ,of the co-operative system in past, lyears. is that men have been called upon to carry out work without knowing wbat 'schedule rate tliey were to be paid for (doing it. When this was mentioned to ! the Minister he said' that ho found such [•allegations hardly credible, but' that in <«ny case, under his administration, men • engaged in public wotks would always 'know beforehand the piece-work rate !,which they wero ito receive. The only 'reasonable alternative to this, the Minister added, would be day labour. "The co-operative system, if carried out. (properly," Mr.'Fraser remarked, "is only ljt 6mall contract system. In the past 'the trouble has been that owing to bad 'grouping, good men. have, received less ithan they earned, while incompetent men fiave received more. It is true that comipetent workmen have had chance 9 of [leaving a particular gang, where this inequality existed, for another, but very ! 'often they found that they wero out cf [the frying-pan into the tire—they perrhaps got into a worse gang. Under the ! small contract system the men will be inble to arrange themselves into gangs of 'six, seven, or eight men, as the case may •be, who will work ' as; partners. Where ■men have not the means"to get plant, 'toolSj appliances, or 'horses, the Depart'■ment will supply them, on the understanding that the co-partners will re'conp such outlay from their earnings." , Regarding the demand for employment, the Minister stated that his Department Jihad up to the present, without difficulty, {placed all the competent workmen who Ijiad applied for work. MR.. ALLEN'S LOAD. NOT MUCH SPARE TIME. It has been frequently said by people -in and out of Parliament that the Hon. James Alien has too heavy a load for any single Minister to carry in the three ( big portfolios of Finance, Defence, and iEducation.' Something of the kind was suggested to Mr. Allen' by a reporter yesterday, and Mr. Allen discussed his work generally. "Whoever has the Department of .Defence must-find his task a trying one," said Mr. Allen, "because new things are cropping up always, and we make new precedents very frequently. As for •Finance, it does not trouble me nearly as much as 1 it did; because I'know a good deal more about the Department than I aid. It was all the more difficult because when I came into office there were no financial regulations at all. They bad been lying undealt with for months and months. Ido not say Mr. Myers wag to' blame, because he was such a short time in office. The Minister did not face the question, and. there wero so many questions coming before me that should have beon settled by regulation. Even,, although I had suoh a short time, i dealt witli these regulations before I went to England, and tliey have eased tho work immsnsely. Ido not find the same difficulty in keeping pace with my files as I did. But there are big questions in Education and Defence that demand a Minister's attention. It is perfectly true that I do not get much spare time.

"A great deal of detail connected with Education also has to' come before me. The important questions of the moment— the report of fne Education Commission, ! and the finances ■ of the University Col- : leges—will come before the Education ■' Committee of the House this year. Ido not think it will be wise to attempt this year any educational legislation of any very widespread importance. We may !have to do some little things. I hopo before very long to make suggestions to Cabinet about the-finances of University Colleges which are not in a very satisfactory condition."

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Address-in-Raply debate is expected to occupy tho greater part of this week in the House of Representatives. ' Party feeling is running high, and there appeals : to be a fairly gentTal dis-positiori to "keep it going." Tho first speaker to,-day will be Air. G. R. S'ykes, member for Masterton. Oppositionists who are expected to take a hand in the debate soon are Messrs. ,7. A. Hanan and G. L'aurenson. Others who are regarded as certain to contribute 'to tho discussion are Messrs. H. Atmore nn<l W. A. Veitch. A number of country members on the Government side are reported to bo ready and willing to put in a word for the back-blocks. _ It is not quite certain what Ministers will take the floor before tho debate terminates, but speeches from', the . Prime Minister, and from the Hon. A. L. Herdman are looked ior. The Honso will probably make a serious start upon the business of the session next wtcllc. In the Legislative Council tho debate will probably terminate to-day, and In view of the position of affairs in tho Honso the Council will probably adjourn vnlil next week.