A RESOLUTE MINISTER

Evening Star, Issue 14525, 29 November 1910, Page 4

A RESOLUTE MINISTER

"RODDY" M'KENZIE'S PERTINACITY. PASSES THE TRAMWAYS BILL AFTER AN ALL-NIGHT SITTLNG. [From Oun Parliamentary Eefchtee.] WELLINGTON, November 29. Tho hero of the session is the Minister of Works. Yesterday tempting odds v.-cro offered—nearly as enticing us that of Lombard street to a china orange—that he would bo compelled to drop tho Tramways Bill, which is crammed full of contentious matter. Tho Mayor of Wellington led a well-organised attack, which threatened to develop into a pronounced stonewall, but though surrounded by a valiant band of seventeen or eiglfteen staunch opponents of centralisation in any shape or form, he was unable to do himself justice, as he was suffering from physical weakness duo to throat trouble, which compelled him at times to speak hardly above a whisper. Only once—on a proposition to report progress to allow of members summoned to attend early morning sittings of committees —was tho Ministerial phalanx broken. Then Mr Glover, assisted by another Government supporter, marched into the " Ayes" lobby, bringing the dissentients to twenty. That was the only time the .Ministerial total was reduced below thirty-three. The principal fights were over the clauses making it penal on a local authority to employ uncertificated workmen during a striko period, and tho prevention of a motorman receiving a certificate if once dismissed for misconduct. The Mayor of Wellington tried t'o persuade the Committee that it was necessary to protect 111■> men by strictly defining misconduct, ad it was quite conceivable for someone in authority to dismiss a man on whom he had a "down" for what was, after all, a trivial offence. Mr T. E. Taylor, in a vigorous speech, reminded Mr Wilford that there were other things to be considered than lightening the burdens of, the ratepayers. The claims of humanity must be studied, and it was ail very well for clever special pleaders to stand on the iloor of tho House and draw imaginary pictures of injustice to employees. The Minister explained that it was never intended to permanently punish a man for a fault, however serious, even if it should unfortunately cause a fatality. Tlio motorman responsible, therefore, could remove his disqualification by working his way up again through the grades from a conductor and sitting for examination as a motorman. Mr Wilford labored hard but in vain to induce the Committee to believe that subclause 6 of clause 2 absolutely clinched the possibility of a strike, as it'prevented corporations employing any man to run cars in the event* of a strike, but the House was in sympathy with tho Minister that that was the very time when the lives and limbs of Hi 3 'Majesty's lieges most required protection. With the retention of this clause by a majority of sixteen the backbone of tho stonewall* was really broken, and the remainder of the Bill had a comparatively easy passage. Old parliamentarians declare that the Hon. R. M'Kcnzio showed to conspicuous advantage by his tact and conciliatory mood, attributes not generally credited t'o him. On the mnior points he met friend and foe alike with commendable persuasiveness, giving away a little here or there, but no\ T er conceding anything vital, with the result that at the end of eight hours' fighting he saw his Bill emerge from tho Committee little injured, and certainly improved by the buffeting it encountered during what at one time threatened to be a wild passage. Shortly before the breakfast hour a wearied Houso rose to reassemble to-night for an encounter with the Trojans (the llinc Commission report). One of the most objectionable clauses of tho Bill was subsection 2, clause 3, which [authorised tho Minister to order alterations, repairs, and additions to plant where tho Govcrnemnt inspecting engineer has reported they are necessary lo ensure tho safety of the public. The' Minister agreed to modify this clause by striking out •'additions" and making the power apply to alterations and repairs only. Through the long night the bell was almost continuously ringing on motions to report progress lo no purpose. The Bill, as amended, however, is less drastic than when it was introduced. At the instance of the Minister a new clause was added providing that the maximum number of passengers to be carried on a car shall not exceed its maximum carrying capacity (which means that municipalities can pack passengers in like sardines). Oecasionally Mr Wilford resorted to a motion to report progress in order lo wako up sleeping members, Tho proceedings were a striking commentary on tho legislative method which obtains towards itho end of the ses-