GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 13

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(abridged press association report.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, August 29

The House met at 3.45 p.m

BILLS. Tho Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency Company Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. J. A/Millar) was road a third time and passed. Tho Church of England Trusts Bill (Mr Statham) was read a second time and referred to a select committee. Tho McDougall Trust Estate Bill pLr Lee) was read a third time and passed.

THE ESTIMATES

Shortly before the dinner adjournment the Houso went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates, the first class taken being House of Representatives, £9254. Tho discussion was continued at the evening sitting. After a long discussion tho Legislative Itepartment Class was passed. The Committee then took tho items or the Deportment of Finance, which were passed without much discussion. On tho Railway Department estimates, Mr HUSSELL protested against tho wholo of these estimates being taken under one vote. He asked what the intended to do to improve tho position of the men in tho first division of tho service, and what ho proposed to do about tho second express train to Auckland.

Tho MINISTER replied that the train would be resumed on October Ist.

Mr RUSSELL, said unless it could be used for Exhibition traffic, it was a doubtful proposition, and he complimented Mr Herries on his courage in stopping the waste that was going on while the second express was running. 'In reply to Mr Russell, tiho MINISTER said ho hoped to satisfy tho employees in the first division. Ho was bringing down new retaliations and a new Bill with a new schedule, which ho believed Avould be satisfactory to both the House and tho railway servants. "With regard to suburban traffic ho said it would cest a very largo sum to do all that was required in Wellington, while there were heavy demands in other parts of the Dominion. He proposed to borrow sufficient money next year to meet tho demands all round* Mr Herries said he hoped to have a system of alarm bells instituted at level railway crossings, and he also hoped to secure the assistance of Jocal bodies in the matter. If he fell in with the wishes of members, the cost would amount to something like two millions for the installation of the necessary appliances. The Railway vote passed unaltered. Progress was reported, and Qic House rose at 1.50 a.m.