RAILWAY RATES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 8

RAILWAY RATES

SOMETHING ABOUT INCREASES,

" The increases, in railway fares and ■freights are now, so near that members of the House are beginning to show interest in them/ Two questions were addressed to Mr. Massey about the new schedule, yesterday.' Mr. Atmore asked when the new 6calo would, come into operation, and by what percentage'.the present rates would be increased.,

Mr. Massey said that the scale of new charges was at present.under the consideration of the Department. He had ■been' given to understand that probably the. increased rates would bo brought 'into operation at the beginning of next week, but he did not now think that this could be done. He wns. not nblo to tell the honourable member by what percentage the present rates would be increased, because the officers of; the Department were not making their increases t&y= a -.uniform advance on all _rate 3- There were some commodities which had for a long time been carried on the railways at a low rate, and these might have to be considerably increased, but _in the case of other commodities on which the rates ■had'been payable the increases would not be so heavy.

.iltr. R. A.: Wright asked, the Minister whether, in readjusting the railway fares,' he would favourably consider the position of the suburban travellers who were regular customers of the railways.

Mr. MaEsey: All that I can do is to ■promise the honourable gentleman that the. ..class, of. passengers in whom he is interested will'not be called upon for 'any ; „larger, increase than any other jlass. _.. r'. ; - ' ■ ' MASSEURS REGISTRATION A MODIFIED BILL. ' The Masseurs Registration Bill, which gave ri*s to some discussion earlier in the session, has been' returned to tho House of .Representatives from the Public Health Committee in an amended form. Dr. Newman,, the chairman of the com.mittee, stated yesterday that the Bill had'bcen v made quite harmless. It would simply enable the public to distinguish between. , masseurs who were qualified ifatf those who were not qualified. It did not interfere in its amended form , with chiropractors, 'faith healers,' hypnotists, or other practitioners of the kind. ■ The.portion <jf the Bill prohibiting the treatment , of.'.'.disease • by' massage or medical: electricity, remedial exercises or other'-'branch' of- physio-therapy without the sanction of a doctor has been, deleted./' The issue of- licenses is to be controlled by.a'.boord of ing of the. Inspector-General of' Hospitafe, : a--repre»nstive of the masseurs and a doctor nominated by the Govern•ln'ent. • The original proposal was that the Inspector-General should . have full authority. ' i pr6portional~representation AND THB CHRISTCHURCH ■DECISION. " Some few years ago the Christchurch City Council decided'that elections for their body should be by proportional representation. ' 'After one experience of this'-foMi". of election, the new council agfeed, after a, long 'fight with tho Labour members that the next election, should be by "the old-fashioned method. Apparently, after yet another election by tho ' old system" the City Council .of Christchurch".had agreed to give propor-tional'-'i-opresehtation another trial.

Mr; D.'Sullivan asked a question in the'-House about this yesterday. He asked the Prime Minister whether he ■Had ndted that' the Christchurch City Council had readopted the system of proportional representation, and whether, in view of this decision .lie would reconsider his own decision with Tegard to the use of the system for the election of raembters of-the House. •

Mr. Massey .said that he was interested to learn that the Christch-uroh City Council had gone back to the system of election which had formerly, been in operation in that city.

. Mr.. M'Combsk.Unanimously! "Mr. Massey: That does: not affect me I in the...slightest degree. lam not one of 1 those who think that what Christchurch ■ thinks to-day New Zealand will think | to-morrow, I can think of quite a number of instances in which proportional representation has been.a dead failure. I am of opinion that proportional representation in New Zealand would be just as unsatisfactory ae it has proved' in New Smith Wales. stewartFTsland V NEW STEAMER SERVICE URGED. Tho committee to which was referred a petition praying for a better ferry service between Stewart Island and the mainland reported favourably upon the' request in' the House yesterday, and added a suggestion that the Government steamer Tutanekai should be put for one season of five months (December 1 to April 30) oh a Bluff-Stewart Island-Mil-ford Sound, and Martin's Bay- round. The proposal was supported warmly by southern members, who told the House of the beauties of Stewart Island, and of the horrors of the journey across I'oveaux Strait in tho Bluff Harbour Board's tug, which now supplies tho connecting link between tho island and Southland. The Tutanekai, they stated, was performing very little useful service at the present time, and tho arrangement proposed by tho coram it too would promote settlement and stimulate the tourist traffic. RAILWAYMEPTSJWATCHES Up to a short time ago New Zealand railwaymen were able, through tho intervention of the A.S.R.S., to obtain' Omega watches at a price very much lowor than they could have done by ' dealing in the ordinary way. The societv, by ordering a v large number of watches at once, was able to deal on advantageous tormg and retail tho timepieces at quite a moderate rate it appears, the company has advised the society that it has appointed an exclusive Now- Zealand agent, and that eneh agent may not dealt with any but established watchmakers and jewellers. The«o matters are .set forth in a Parliitmantary petition in which the society complains , that the company is an or- ! ganisation in restraint of trade, and urges that stepfl be taken to exclude its -watches from Uie.'-DomiMoa. . The petition was presented to the House, yes- .■ terday. '