RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 August 1928, Page 9

RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

ABOLITION OF BOARD. OPPOSITION LEADER’S DISAPPROVAL. (By Telegraph —Special to The Star.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. To indicate disapproval of the Government’s action disposing of the Railway Board* arid appointing a general manager , without the authority of statute, Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, will move a reduction in the estimates in the early hours of to-day. He declared that the Prime Minister had acted a® a dictator, ignoring Parliament, which was the proper authority tot make such a change, a® the board existed by statute. How could the people be expected to obey the law, when the Government, relying on its immense majority, flouted it. The Hon. Downie Stewart: “Haveyou never asked us to validate grants made to your local bodies?”

Alir Holland retorted: “This is a different thing.” In the course of further discussion, Mr J. McCombs characterised the Prime Minister a® treating Parliament with contempt and earning the title of the “Mussolini of Ni?w Zealand!.” Ha was asked by the chairman to withdraw, as it wa.s out of order to refer to, anv member as being similar to a person of disrepute. Mr McCombs: “I bow to your ruling and accept your judgment of Signor Mussolini.”

Mr Coates: /‘lt was not by any means a reference to the Italian statesman, but the term® in which it was used were derogatory.” He had. already. hei Said, made an explanation of tfie change and would make further references an the Railway Department’s report, and when validating legislation was introduced. Mir Holland’s amendment was negatived bv 43 to 15, and! the House rose at 2.40 a.m.