81
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Enclosure 5.
THE LAW COURTS BULLDING CONTRACTS.
(Extract from the Hansard of 23rd April, 1914.)
With regard to Financial Minute No. 12, relating to a vote of $18,505 in connection with the building of the new Law Courts, the Colonial Secretary said: -I have a copy of the award given by Major Wenborn which I will circulate for the inspection of members of the Council.
His Excellency, in connection with Financial Minute No. 12, said—It will be within the recollection of members that on the occasion of the debate on the Estimates for 1913 the honourable member nominated by the Chamber of Com- merce animadverted upon the delay in the building of the Law Courts and the Post Office; and on behalf of unofficial members asked for a Commission to enquire into the administration of the Public Works Department and the cause of delays in carrying out Public Works. In consequence of those representations a Committee was appointed to enquire into the delay and excess expenditure. over Estimates in the case of the Law Courts and Post Office, and their report on the subject of the Post Office was laid on the table some months ago. It was im- possible for the Committee to prosecute their inquiries into the building of the Law Courts, because the accounts for that work had, owing to disputes with the contractor, not been closed. The contractor claimed $55,448.23 for value of extra work performed in connection with the above building, and as no agreement could be arrived at on the subject it was agreed to submit the question to the arbitration of Major Wenborn, whose services were kindly lent by His Excellency the General Officer Commanding for the purpose. The award is $32,360.35 less $15,854.58 overpaid to the contractor, or a nett sum of $16,505. The arbitrator's award is laid on the table for the perusal of members. His fee amounts to $2,000, and on the recommendation of the arbitrator it is proposed that this fee should be defrayed by the Government. Mr. H. G. C. Fisher, the Executive Engineer in charge of the erection of the Law Courts, has recently been invalided out of the service, and will not return to the Colony. An enquiry without his presence as a witness is not possible, and in these circumstances I do not propose to ask the Committee to hold any farther enquiry. I am not without hope that delays such as occurred in the case of the building referred to will not be repeated.
The Colonial Treasurer seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
Enclosure 6.
NURSING STAFF AT GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
(Extract from the Hansard of 7th May, 1914.)
Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, in accor lance with notice of motion, asked:-
1.- When was the decision arrived at to increase the staff of the Medical Department by two Probationers instead of by two Sisters ; between what dates were the Probationers advertised for, and in what newspapers?
2. Has it been found by the Government, as the result of experience, that it is an easy matter to engage Probationers possessing sat. isfactory qualifications? Do not such Probationers, as a rule, re- quire, during the first year of their engagement, to be carefully supervised by the Sisters?
3. In the year 1913 how many Military women and children were cared for in the Government Hospitals, and what fees did the Govern- ment receive in respect of such cases? Has there been any, and, if so, what increase in the Government Nursing Staff, and when, since the Government took over the care of such cases from the Military Authorities?