I am instructed that in all Government contracts a provision should be made that work under such contracts should not be carried on Sundays,
I have the honour to state that Mr. Brown has recently brought to my notice that to institute the principle mentioned would increase the cost of all public works by about 10%.
As the estimates for public works for the current year had been framed before the receipt of the instructions regarding Sunday Labour, and it is undesirable to exceed them, I have cancelled the instructions referred to for the present year.
I may mention that I introduced a few days ago a Bill restricting Sunday Labour in the Harbour, which I trust will be read a second time.