PARLIAMENT Opposition Refuses To Expedite Railway Bill

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29264, 23 July 1960, Page 14

PARLIAMENT Opposition Refuses To Expedite Railway Bill

(New Zealana I'res* Association) WELLINGTON, July 22. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake) today refused to agree to proceed with the Nelson Railway Authorisation Bill before the Budget debate starts. The Prime Minister (Mr Nash) had suggested in the House of Representatives that the second reading debate on the bill be continued today or that the opening of the Budget debate by Mr Holyoake on Tuesday night be postponed till Wednesday night so the bill could be dealt with on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Construction work on the Nelson railway cannot be started till the bill is passed.

The Government’s problem is that the Budget debate normally takes precedence over other business, including bills, arid the debate generally takes about four weeks. But the Speaker (Mr Maefarlane) said there were precedents for interrupting the Budget debate. Mr Holyoake said he could not agree to co-operate with the Government in getting the Nelson Railway Authorisation Bill, passed.

The Opposition had said unequivocally it would stop —ork

on the railway immediately it became the Government and Mr

Holyoake said he did not think work should start. Mr Holyoake said a number of Opposition members still wanted to speak in the second reading debate. The Prime Minister finally agreed that the Budget debate should start on Tuesday night. He said that if the Opposition would not co-operate in getting the bill passed, the Government would have to take procedural steps necessary to do so.