NORTON GRIFFITHS' CONTRACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1915, Page 3

NORTON GRIFFITHS' CONTRACT.

DISCUSSED IN NEW SOUTH WALES ASSEMBLY. By Cable —JPress Association—Copyright. Sydney, Sept. 2. In tho Assembly, Mr. Wade moved a censure motion. He said the agreement with Norton Griffiths and Co. was unsatisfactory and fraught with grave danger to the State. He pointed out that the contract was condemned two years ago because the supreme control was given to the contractor, which would strike a blow at the vital principle of day labor. He referred to the absence of fair competition, and said that no limit was stipulated to the amount the company spent and no guarantee that it would not be behind-hand with the contracts at the end of five years. He thought the proper thing for the Government to have done was to have borrowed ten millions spread over five years. Mr'.* Holman replied that in December last 23,000 men were dependent on the public works. The Broken Hill mines were closing down, and there were clear Indications of an impending industrial calamity. The necessity of the hour was continuity of work. There was an embargo on loans, except for war purposes. The Government and people lived literally from hand-to-mouth for four months. The firm offered the only financial service possible to keep workmen from starvation. Tl\ere were good reasons for condemning tho. scheme, and better ones for applauding it. He deplored the abandonment of the day labor principle, but accepted it as the lesser of two evils. The fact that the Government had entered on the scheme in face of serious Labor opposition ought to guarantee vita honesty of purpose. The motion was negatived by 37 votes to 28.