PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 56, 30 October 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1912. L LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.! Wellington, October 29. The Council met at 2.d0 p.m. The Land Laws Amendment bill was introduced from the House and read a first time. The second reading was taken pro forma, and the Bill was then referred to the Lands Committee. - . The Council then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Education Commission s Report. The Chairman of the Education Committee reported that the evidence before the Education Commission could not be printed tnis session. Several Opposition members objected to tne postponement of the report of the Commission. the Minister said there were some questions in the report which required very considerable attention, and could not possibly be dealt with this session. A great number of the recommendations of the Commission had already oeen put into operation. The now organisation was now under way, and oefore long would be in full _ swing. Members knew that an Education Lii I was to bo brought down this session, when a number of other important matters would be provide for. Attention would be paid to the physical training and to the training of girls to lit them for their duties when they reached womanhood. He was about to appoint five lady inspectors and five non for that purpose. The reorganising of the Junior Cadets was already ;n operation, and he intended to sulimit a syllabus to the conference of in : spec tors in the New Year. He jn.peo oefore long to see every child with a card setting out itp physical condition. 1 ’ Otira Tunnel. Mr, Lee moved the adoption of the report brought down by the committee set up to consider the Otira tonne, petition presented on behalf of McLean Bros. After referring to the conditions of contract and the less sustained by the contractors, he said that the estimate cf the Public Works Do pirtment was entirely at sea. Ic was absolutely impossible to carry out tin work for the money. The contractor; had estimated that it would take from £130,000 to £140,000 to complete tu work. Mr. Seddon advocated that the Government should complete the work. Sir Joseph Ward contended that i would 1)0 unbusinesslike to cease work. Something like £1,800.000 had_ been spent already on the Midland Railway, including the expenditure by the ok! company. He averred that the non prosecution of.the work would amount almost to insanity. The trouble which arose in the tunnel among the men on the work was due to the conditions under which they had to work. If the contractors had lost £53,000, as ban been shown, bo asked whether anything would be gained to the country by compelling them to go into hqni elation. Ho thought the contractors should ho relieved on the lines cf the committee’s report, and the work caiirod out by the Government. Mr. John Bollard said that the Government engineer’s original estimate should have been £700,000, instead of £500,000. The contractors had done their best to carry out their contract, but,were hampered by their employees. The contractors were now absolutely ruined, and the House should lie rrorciful and give thorn £15,000 or £20,000 and cry quits. . After further discussion Mr. eraser said that the whole question was a matter for the Cabinet, which would do its dutv to the cc/imtry. Mr McKenzie favoured the return of the £SOOO deposit to the contractors, and release from the surety of £25 000. *The House then adjourned, and resumed at 7.30. Public Service Bill. The amendments made by the Council in the Public Service Bill were agreed to.