RAILWAYS BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 8

RAILWAYS BILL

MEASURE PASSES HOUSE

NO DIVISIONS TAKEN

EASTER ADJOURNMENT

Very little obstruction was offered .the Government Railways Amendment Bill by Opposition members in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, when the measure passed its third reading in reasonable time. With the passing of this and the Reserve Bank Bill, which was put through the Legislative Council yesterday, the pre-EaSter programme of the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage) was completed, and the House when it rose at 5.10 p.m. adjourned for the Easter recess until Thursday, April 16, at 2.30 p.m. .

Two more Bills were introduced by Governor-General's Message yesterday afternoon—the Labour Department Amendment Bill and the Employment Promotion Bill, both of which were read a first time and circulated among members. The Judicial Heports Bill, which was read a first time on Tuesday, was also circulated yesterday afternoon, so members will have something to peruse over the holidays.

Urgency was accorded the passage of the Kailways Bill, which restores Ministerial control of the railway services, but members of the Opposition did not offer any serious or sustained objection, and allowed the measure to go through without a division. With the exception of the Minister (the Hon. D; G. Sullivan) and Mr. E. P. Meachen (Government, Wairau), the Government had no contribution to make to the debate.

Mr. Meachen protested against a statement made by the Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) that his Government was prepared to reconsider the reconstruction of the South Island Main Trunk line when finances were available. Mr. Meachen was quickly to his feet with 'the remark that since the line had been closed down the previous Government had removed material and gear, and had sold,it for a mere song. He declared that Mr. Forbes's words contradicted his actions. Mr. W. P. Endean (National, Parnell), at a later stage; referred to Mr. Meachen's participation in the debate, and congratulated him on breaking the silence of Government members. "They have sat here like a lot of deaf mutes at a funeral,", he stated. The Chairman of Committees (Mr. E. J. Howard) stepped in, and Mr. Endean withdrew his- remark amid laughter. . ■ There was a chorus of Government laughter when Mr. S. G. Smith (National, New Plymouth) appealed for the protection of the Chair from interjection. Mr.-Smith likened the Committee io a Labour Party meeting, at which a person was shouted down when he rose to say anything that did not meet with the approval of those in charge. Mr. A. Hamilton (National, Wallace) criticised the power given to the Minister in the Bill to delegate his authority, and his statement drew from Mr. F. W. Schramm (Government, Auckland East) the interjection: "You delegated your authority .when you sent a machine to jam "a radio station in Auckland." ■ . ■ •

Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) asked whether the completion of the East Coast and South Island Main Trunk lines would be undertaken immediately, and whether the House would be given an opportunity of discussing these projects. He also criti-: cised the delegation of authority and the setting up of a tribunal, for which he failed to see the necessity. He took exception to the power that was to be retained in the Minister's hip pocket.

The Minister said that full information would be placed before the House in connection with any proposed project. Referring to the tribunal, he said that.exactly the same conditions would obtain in the future as in the past. When the time for discussing wages and conditions arose, the men would approach the Minister in the usual way, but only when it was found impossible to reach an agreement would a tribunal be set up to make recommendations to the Minister. What was being done had the approval' of the whole of the railwaymen's organisations as well as that of the members of the Government.