A BAD BARGAIN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 5

A BAD BARGAIN.

COMMONWEALTH'S PURCHASE OF COCKATOO ISLAND.

By Telegraph—Proso Association—CopyTisM Melbourne, August 1. The closing of the Cockntoo Island power plant, reported yesterday, was duo to tho recommendation of tho Naval Board, following a report by an expert that tho boilers were unsafe.

Senator Millen, Federal Defence Minister, states that when the idea of ©.instructing vessels for tho Australian Navy at Cockatoo Island was first mentioned, it was stated that the Fitzroy dock was capable of doing the work. The Fisher Government placed a tender for a cruiser and threo destroyers with the New South Wales Government, which then owned Cockatoo Island yards. Frietion arose between the dockyard authorities and tho Naval Board, and tho latter reported that matters were in such a condition that there was a grave risk of failure on the part of New South Wales in completing tho vessels. The Fisher Government therefore decided to take over tho dockyard. as the only solution of tho difficulty. Much of tho machinery was good, but a great deal was obsolete, and the plant generally would largely require reconstruction, which would seriously delay the completion of the vessels.

Senator Millen adds that the Commonwealth made in extremely bad bargain.