PARLIAMENT NELSON RAILWAY BILL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 14

PARLIAMENT NELSON RAILWAY BILL

House May Sit Through Night

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 29. The Opposition in the House of Representatives last night dug in for a “fight to the finish” on the Nelson Railway Authorisation Bill.

Earlier, the Prime Minister (Mr Nash), in the face of strong Opposition criticism, had Standing Orders suspended so that the bill might be passed through all its stages in the one sitting.

The Opposition indicated it would fight every stage of the bill, and members prepared for an all-night sitting.

The House was still debating the second reading at 1030 pan., when the House normally rises. By then several members were asleep in their benches.

When the House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Nash asked that Standing Orders be suspended so that the bill could be passed in the one sitting. But the DeputyLeader of the Opposition (Mr Marshall) said he could not agree to this. Mr Nash then moved that Standing Orders be suspended. The Opposition took strong exception to this, said Mr Marshall. ‘‘Not only is the matter not urgent, the bill should be postponed indefinitely. It appears the Government wants to push this legislation through in spite of the opposition to the bill,” Mr Marshall said. The Prime Minister, he said, had given no reasons why he wanted the bill passed so urgently. “There is a strong view that work has been done on the railway without statutory authority. The bill contains no authorisation for work we consider was illegally done. The bill should be withdrawn and amended,” Mr Marshall said. “The Opposition believes this bill is merely a political effort by the Government. The Government must show that urgency is necessary. We say there is no urgency.” The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake) said that if the Government had been in earnest about the bill it could have passed it two years ago. “Swamp the Voting” Mr J. K. McAlpine (Opposition, Selwyn) said he thought the Government wanted the bill passed in a hurry so that it could establish workmen’s camps and “swamp the voting in Marlborough and Nelson.” Opposition members kept the debate on the suspension motion going till 4 p.m. before the Prime Minister replied by saying that the Government was not trying to force the issue, but it had a right to place its bill on the Statute Book. • At 4.30 p.m. Mr Speaker put the motion for suspension of Standing Orders, and the Opposition called for a division, which the Government won, 38-37, The House then started on the second-reading debate on the bill, which had been adjourned from Mr E. J. Keating (Government, Hastings) said that the railway had been promised by the previous Minister of Railways, the present Leader of the Opposition, and by the present Government. The difference was that when Labour members made a promise they kept it Construction of the railway, Mr Keating said, would promote the distribution of timber, the production of fruit and vegetables, and secondary industry, in the Mr T. T. Murray (Opposition, Stratford) challenged Mr Keating to point out the location of timber, and the route of the railway, and say how it would help with the distribution of timber. Failure to do that disposed of the only argument that had been heard in favour of the railway. Timber Production The Deputy-Prime Minister*(Mr Skinner) said that production of timber from man-made forests in the South Island had been disappointing, except on some of the good land in central Canterbury and in Otago. Only in the north of the South Island, however, was there a really remarkable growth of exotic timber. The quality was excellent, and compared well with that of any part of the North Island. It bad been estimated that 20m board feet of exotic timber would have to be brought to the lower part.of the South Island from Kaingaroa each year. but this could be supplied from Nelson. Twenty to 25m board feet of indiginous timber would also be shipped to the North Island a lot possibly by the railway ferry. ‘The railway will carry a lot of this timber. No road transport could ever hope to compete with the railway," said MrSkinner. Mr Skinner said the railway had also been promised by the National Party as well as by the labour Party. In 1957 the then Prime Minister. Sir Sidney Holland, made it quite clear the survey was under way then, ana that the National Government intended to make every effort to get the railway through. “And the present Leader of the

Opposition told the people of Nelson it would be a great pity if they should be asked to wait until the survey was completed,” said Mr Skinner. “The Opposition is criticising the present Government for doing the same thing it has promised.” Mr Skinner said that no major railway in its early years after construction had paid for itself. But railways were a means of transport eminently suitable for opening new areas. Mr McAlpine’s Criticism The proposed railway would have, at the most, only two trains a week, Mr McAlpine estimated. “That means that for interest charges alone it will cost about £7500 for every train that leaves the station,” he said. Fifteen trucks and trailers could carry all the goods going in and out of Nelson. Timber would have to be brought 26 miles from Golden Downs to the Nelson station to be put on the railway. Mr McAlpine suggested that the proposed Cook Strait road-rail ferry should run between Wellington, Picton, and Nelson. Nelson would then have a link with the North and South Island railways. He estimated the cost of the Nelson railway at about £l6m. The cost of two ferries would be £4m. “For a half share in the cost of the ferries and an additional £lm for a- loading ramp and facilities Nelson would have a notional railway,. a first-class road, a first-class sealed airport, and a rail-ferry link with the North and South Islands,” Mr McAlpine said.’ The Minister of Railways (Mr Moohan) said that if people 10C years ago had taken the same attitude as the Opposition there would be no railways in New Zealand. * He said the railway would take about five years to build. It was a necessity, and was required for the development of Nelson and the South Island. The National Party was trying to raise an agitation throughout New Zealand to stop Nelson having the same facilities that every other city in New Zealand enjoyed. The National Party had never had the slightest intention of keeping faith with the people of Nelson, in spite of having given a solemn promise to provide a railway. Tauranga as Example “It is not being built for the people of Nelson—it is being built for New Zealand as an extension of the South Island Main Trunk that will be connected to the North Island by the rail ferry,” said Mr Moohan. “Only a few years ago Tauranga was like Nelson. Look at Tauranga today. That is the justification for the railway,” said the Minister. Mr W. A. Sheat (Opposition, Egmont) said that other forms of transports could do the job equally as well as the railways. The railway could cost up to £lsm, but the Government had placed £200,000 on the Estimates for the first year of construction. “I think we can say it is just humbugging the people of Nelson. It is not in earnest on this matter,” said Mr Sheat. The Prime Minister said that rail transport was better than any other for the carriage of heavy goods, and it would prove a background to extensive development in the Nelson Province, which had more unused assets than any other area in New Zealand. The Kinleith and Kawerau lines, which had been built to carry timber resources in the North Island, were the best paying sections of the railways today, outside tiie Main Trunk. They broke even. They paid all operating costs and paid interest on all money invested there. Development of Assets “We have lost well over £loom on the railways in the last 35 years,” said Mr Nash, “but we do not know what we have gained in the development of assets that were previously in the ground' 4md are now being used. That would not have been possible without the railways.” Mr Nash said the Railways Department estimated the , line's operating costs could be met as soon as timber was available. , The estimated operating surplus would be £22,000 a year. This was based on the railway carrying 155,000 tons of timber and 70.000 tons of other products Amendment Moved At 10.15 pin. Mr D. J. Carter (Opposition, Raglan) moved an amendment that the second reading of the bill be deferred indefinitely. and that in the meantime provision be made to incorporate in permanent legislation the notional railway and to improve road, air, and sea services to ensure that the Nelson Province bad the best modern transport service available. Mr Marshall seconded the

The Minister of Transport (Mr Mathison) said that if the Opposition had any political sagacity it would commend the Government for carrying out its promise. Since 1957 the notional railway had cost the taxpayers £250,000, which was being used to subsidise road transport in the area.

At 11.12 pun., Mr Marshall drew Mr Speaker's attention to the fact that there was not a quorum in the chamber. At the time the bells were rung to summon members back there were 14 Government members in their seats and only four Opposition members. Standing Orders require 20 members to be present including Mr Speaker. There, were no Government speakers' op the second reading after. 11.15 p-m. When Mr A. E. Allen (Opposition, Franklin) was speaking at 11.45 p.m, he complained he was having to compete with the snoring of Mr T. P. Paikea (Government, Northern Maori).

At 12.15 aun. the Prime Minister moved a closure to end the debate on the second reading. This was carried by 38 votes to 37.

Mr Carter’s amendment was defeated, 38-37, and the bill was given a second reading at 1235 a.m. by the same majority.