CENSURE MOTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9139, 3 September 1915, Page 6

CENSURE MOTION

By Telegraph —Presa Association—Copyright SYDNEY, September ‘2. In tho Assembly Air Wade (leader of the Opposition), in moving a censure motion that tno agreement with Norton wrnfiths is unsatisfactory ana fraugnt with grave danger to the Stare, pointed out that tlie contract was oouueinned two years ago because supreme control was given tne contractor to strike' a olow at the vital principle of day labour. Ao referred to the absence of lair competition, and said there was no limit stipulated'to the amount the company spent, and no guarantee not to be behindhand with contracts at the end of the five years. He thought f-iio proper thing for tho Government to have done was to have borrowed ten niiilions, spreading over the five years. The Premier (Air Holman) replied that in December last 23,000 men were dependent on public works. The Broken Hill mines were closing down and there were clear indications of an impending industrial calamity. The necessity of tho hour was continuity of work. There was embargo on loans except for war purposes. Tho Government and the people lived literally from hand to mouth for four months. The firm offered tlie only financial service possible to keep the workmen from starvation. There were good reasons for condemning the scheme, but better ones for applauding it. H would deplore the abandonment of tho day labour principle, but accepted the lesser of two evils. The fact that the Government had entered upon tho scheme in face of serious Labour opposition ought to guarantee its honesty of purpose. Tho motion was negatived by 37 votes to 28.