PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1928, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL.

(Special to “Star.”)

WELLINGTON, September 28.

The Railways Amendment Bill was brought dowxx to-day. It fixes Mr Sterling’s salary at £3,500. Mr Coates stated that in addition to general manager’s salary, provisions there were clauses dealing with Railwaymen’s sick benefits. Fie had had >no word of protest from the various friendly societies ixx regard to the sick benefit proposals. As far as existing -members of the service were concerned, who had joined sick benefit societies, they would not be interfered with, but it would be .compulsory for those who joined the service from now on to subscribe to the sick benefit scheme proposed.

Questioned regarding superannuation, Mi* Coates said that they were reaching the stage when some of the higher paid officers would not remain in the service unless they were paid more than £3OO a year on retiring on superannuation. Harbour boards and other local bodies paid a much higher superannuation than £3OO a year, and the Government was going to alter the existing conditions in that respect. In regard to appeals, the Railway Officers’ Institute was in accord with what was proposed in the Bill. The Bill provides that the general manager is to refund the contributions paid to him when he resigned in 1926, also to pay the actual superannuation contribution which he would have had to pay had he continued in the service. An important clause in the Bill relates.to the restrictions on motor traffic at railway crossings. The Bill provides that the rate of approach shall be raised from ten to fifteen miles an hour. The motorist is to keep a vigilant look out, and not attempt to cross the line unless it is clear. Failure to observe the regulation is liable to a fine not .exceeding ten. pounds.

PUBLIC RESERVES. Objection to the proposal in the Public; Reserves Domains and National Parks Bill that local bodies shall have right to make a charge for admission to reserves on not more than 30 days in the year, was raised in the House to-night. Mr J. S. Dickson thought that 30 days was far too many. That amounted to more than every other Saturday in the,year. Twenty days would be quite sufficient. It was not right to permit the public to be shut out of their property for every Saturday in the winter or summer months. Mr J. R. Hamilton did not agree with this argument, stating that there were many domains and reserves in country districts which were used only for sports purposes, and it would affect the controlling authorities financially if they could not make charges. Mr E. A. Ransom supported this view pointing out that many country reserves were maintained out of admission charges. The Minister of Lands (Mr McLeod) said he recognised that the difficulty arose in smaller towns if the clause were passed in the present form, he would look into the matter with a view to eliminating its application to the cities. PETROL TAX. The question of the allocation of the petrol tax revenue for the expenditure in the district in which it is collected was raised by Six’ J. Ward in the House to-night. Mr J. R. Hamilton said the allocation of the tax on the mileage basis worked out inequitably in large countries, where there were many miles of roads. The basis of allocation should bd one of expenditure. Mr Hockly said he hoped the Minister would not pay heed to the suggestion. That would mean the towns would mop up all the revenue. The Minister (Mr Williams) said that while every care was being taken to allocate the money as fairly as possible, according to the estimated amount of work that should be done in the different districts, it was not yet possible to say how far that had worked out, especially as most of the work was done in summer months, and at present we were only just through the winter. There were districts with long intermediate stretches of road on which nothing would be expended at all, if the principle advocated were given effect to. It was desirable to improve those roads fox - motoring, and to link tip the various centres. Mr J. A. Lee: Can’t you spend the money more rapidly?

Th.e Minister said it was not considered economical to carry out the work in bad weather. In regard to heavy traffic taxation, he said the fees were due again on March'3l, and he had given an assurance to those who paid the tax’ that a conference would be called early in the New Year, so that the question of review could be discussed. BILLS PASSED. The House passed to-night the Maintenance Order (facilities for enforcement) Amendment Bill, Public Works Bill, Companies Amendment Bill, Public Reserves Domains and National Parks Bill (with amendments), Motor Spirits Taxation Amendment Bill, and Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, with amendments, and adjourned till Monday afternoon.