A CONTRACTOR'S MISFORTUNE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10924, 13 November 1913, Page 5

A CONTRACTOR'S MISFORTUNE.

0 WEALTHY MAN REDUCED TO PENURY. PARLIAMENT ASKED FOR HELP. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, November 12. Reporting on the petition of Robert formerly of Christchurch, praying for relief owing to the loss he sustained by me termination of the Wellington dry-dock contract, and tne passing of the Weiuugton iiarbour jDoaru iiinpowering .act, 19J.U, the jf uuac Pensions Committee recommends the matter to the Government tor lurtner inquiry. \viien uio report came before the House tnis afternoon the Hon D. Buddo stated that the petitioner put up a large and costiy plaut for supplying stone to the dock. It was rendered absolutely useless by the stoppage of the contract and Mr Pitcaithiy found himself penniless, having lost all his savings. The case was really one calling tor equitable • settlement. The Wellington Harbour Board got "out of an immense liability and Mr Pitcaithiy through legislation was deprived of compensation. The recommendation was also Gupported by Mr Davey, who said the agreement with Mr -Pitcaithiy would strike the ordinary layman as particularly faulty, inasmuch as Air Pitcaithiy was bound to supply metal and shingle as required but there was no obligation upon the contractors, the M'Lean Brothers, to take any or to compensate him' if they failed to take any material. A Supreme Court action had no good result for the petitioner, who had lost £35,000 and'was now reduced to earning ten shillings a day. The Hon F. M. B. Fisher: Who do you suggest is liable P Mr Davey said he did not quite know. There was no contract between , the Harbour Board and Mr Pitcaithiy. Mr Payne said he sincerely hoped the House would do nothing for the man. If he. had once owned £35;000 and was now able to earn ten shillings a day he should think himself lucky. He protested against frittering the taxpayers' money away while it was said there was nothing available to relieve poor miners' widows and children. '

Mr Davey: What on earth has this to do with the miners' relief fund?

'Mr Witty expressed astonishment at the speech from the member for Grey Lynn, adding that Mr Pitcaithly had become a poor man through a technicality winch was no fault of his. Messrs Russell, Clark and Ell supported an inquiry, Mr Clark pointing out that when legislation was promoted relieving the "Wellington Harbour Board from its liability a clause was inserted protecting Mr Pitcaithly but apparently it was useless. Mr Okey, chairman of the Petitions Committee, said that it ■ wns certainly a case for inquiry, but he cTid not consider there was any liability attach* in;r to the Government. ■ . The report was adopted.