N.S.W. POLITICS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14700, 3 September 1915, Page 8

N.S.W. POLITICS.

THE NORTON-CRIFFITHS SCHEME.

CENSURE .MOTION DEFEATED.” Press Association.—Telegraph—Copyright, SYDNEY, SepUmb-i 2 In the .Assembly, Mr Wade-moved a censure motion that the ■ agreement with the Noiton-Gn.ffitiis Company was nn-. satisfactory, and : -fraught,- .with grave diiijger to '.the'. State. ./Tie J pointed- but that the contract was condemned two years agoj because supreme: control whs given the contractor to strike a. blow at the vital principle of. day labour., Helre;-: ferred to the absence of. fair and said' that no •■limit. w:is stipulated ii\ to the amount the company;■-spent. ..No guarani ee wa>- given that the- cdlnpany would not bo behindhand .with its coir* tracts at the 'end. ot- five 7 years. lie thought ’the,, proper: thingibr 1 the Govern • meat to haw done was to- borrow tcii millions over five .years. Premier Holman 1 ' replied that, ili 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 the,-hour wa continuity of work,, and there was a 1 embargo on loans, except for war pur poses. The Government and the peop!' lived literally from hand to month for four months. The firm offered the -only financial service to .make it possible t keep the workmen from starvation. Ther - were good, reasons for- condemning tl ■ scheme, but better .reasons for applaud iug, it. He deplored , the of the day labour principle,'but accepted it as the. lesser of two: evils. The fac ‘ that, the ' Government . entered into tlm scheme in the' face of serious Lahoiropposition ought to In a guarantee o! its hon'°s*-y cf purpose.'' . The motion was. negatived by 37 to 28.