PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 139, 30 October 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2.9, 1012.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Lund Laws Amendment Bill was introduced from "the. House and read a first time. The second reading was taken pro forma, and the Hill was then re- I ferred to the Lands Committee. The Couin.il 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 this session. Several Opposition members objected to the 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 been put into operation. The new organisation was now under way, and before long would be in full swing. Members knew that an Education Bill was to be brought down this session, when a number of other important matters would be provided for. Attention would be paid to the physical training and to the training of girls to fit them'for-their duties when they reached womanhood. He was about to appoint five lady inspectors and five men for that purpose. The reorganising of the Junior Cadets was already in operation, and he intended to submit a syllabus to the conference of inspectors in the New Year. He hoped before long to see every child with a card setting out its physical condition.

OTIRA TUNNEL. j Mr. Lee moved the adoption of the j report brought down.by the committee ant up to consider the Otira tunnel peti- / tion presented on behalf of McLean Bros. After referring to the conditions of contract and the loss sustained by the contractors, he said that the estimate of the Public Works Department was entirely at sea. It was obsolutely impossible to carry out the work for the money. The contractors had estimated that it would take from £130,000. to £140,000 to complete the work. Mr. Seddon advocated that the Gov- : ernment should complete the work. Sir Joseph Ward contended that it would be unbusinesslike to cease work. Something like £1,800,000 had been spent already on the Midland Railway, including the expenditure by the old company. He averred that the nonprosecution 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 had been shown, he asked whether anything would be gained to the country by com-_ pelling them to go into liquidation. He' thought the contractors should be relieved on the lines of the committee's report, and the work carried out by the Government.

Mr. John Bollard'said'that the Government engineer's original estimate should have been; £700,000, insteau 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 be merciful and give them £15;000'or £20,000, and cry quits. After further discussion Mr. Fraser said that the whole question was a matter for the Cabinet, which would do its duty to the'country. Mr. McKenzie favored the return of the £SOOO deposit to the contractors and release from the surety of £25,000. The House them adjourned. The House resumed'at f.30 pmi. PUBLIC SERVICE BILL.

The amendments made by the Council in the Public Service Bill were agreed'