DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 12 September 1930, Page 9

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAYS

INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE

‘ ‘ DEATH-BED REPENTANCE ’ ’

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WliL'L-rX'OTOX. Sept. 12. Tlio House of iEepro.sontati.ves mot at 10.30 this morning.

The London ami New Zealand Bank Limited Amendment (private) Bill was read' a- first time.

Replying to Mr AV. J. Poison, Hon. A. J. Murdoch (Minister of Agriculture) said) the question of raising the embargo on importations of stock had been under consideration, but, in view of news having been received yesterday of three outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Yorkshire, he considered it would not be wise to remove any restrictions at present.

Replying to Mr IX G. Sullivan, Hon. E. A. Ransom, the aeting-Prime Minister, said tho suggestion to arrange for one hour's daylight saving would be considered when the whole position of the power shortage, owing to the louy level of Lake 'Coleridge, was being reviewed. He would be able to give a considered reply on Tuesday next as to what would be done.

Mr Ransom, in moving for the appointment of ai committee ho inquire into railway construction, intimated he desired to include in the order of reference provision for an inquiry into: the financial effect of construction am.d into the wisdom of expending borrowed money on the railways, having regard to tho availability of other forms of transport to meet requirements.

Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates asked whether the committee would be given power to order any investigations. 'Mr Ransom said if the; committee found if. necessary for its powers to bo increased it could report back to the House. He considered the inclusion of the suggestion of Mr Coates would widen the scope of the mittee’s work to a rather wide degree.

[Mr 11. E. Holland asked whether it would be possiblo to alter the clause dealing with the transport. He said that unless this alteration was made tho whole question of the carriage of coal< in the Westport Inangaliua sector would be excluded from the inquiry.

Mr A. M. Samuel said it would be futile to appoint such a committee. Railway construction was a policy matter and would be dictated by the 'Government. The only solution of the railway problem would be non-political control.

Mr P. Fraser expressed concern that the Government should be now feeling uncertainty on a matter about which it had been so definite a few months ago.

iMr C. A. Wilkinson said he thought it childish. The problem should be tackled in tho way the 'Government proposed and he protested against- leaving the matter until: so late in the session. It would Ibo impossible, to cover the task adequately in the brief space of time.

Mr Poison, expressed regret that the Government had formerly refused to include railway construction in the work of the Royal Commission on the operation! of the railways. He was glad the Government was now proposing to make an inquiry railway construe--tion, but. he desired to : protest against the manner in which it was being- done. A full inquiry should be held during the recess and the Government should hold up work on lines at present under construction until the committee had reported, ‘Mr IX iMeDougall pointed out that if such a course were adopted a large number of men would bo thrown out of work.

Air A. C. Anscll described' the proposal to appoint the committee as “deathbed! repentance on the part of the Government.” Tie was pleased l an inquiry was to be held, but. it was unfortunate the 'Government had not, as early a« last- year, taken up the suggestion of the Leader of the Opposition that, such a. course should be adopted. Air Sullivan said it was a pity the order of reference of the committee had not been extended to include road construction.

Mr J. S. FI etcher suggested- the‘Go vernment would bo well, advised to- bold up the- appointment of -the committee till the Recess.

Hon. ! W. B. Taverner said the opportunity was being given to raise railiwav ec-nstructiori) above- the level of party questions. Ho believed good work could bo- done by the- committee it was proposed to set up.

'Messrs W. It. Martin and G. C. -Blade urged that the, question should be one for a recess -inquiry. Mr Black also asked that the committee should be given power to call for returns. The House approved of amendments -to the. motion as outlined by Mr -Ransom, which- included- reference to the ‘ ‘ wisdom of expending borro wed money at the present rate of interest,” and also that suggested by Mr Holland- that inquiry into the transport of bulky freights*, should not be confined to long distance lines.

Mr Ransom, replying to the debate, said- he thought it wise that Mr -Holland’s suggestion had been adopted. He did not agree with Mr -Samuel that railway construction was a matter for the Government of the day. -Such national problems were issues- for which the' whole House -should take -the full measure of responsibility. For that reason -it. ;\vas only fair the ITous-e should have all the information-- that was at the- disposal of 'the Government. He defended the delay in the appointment of the committee on! the ground that it. was important, before the inquiry commenced, there should- be -available for the committee full details as t-o estimated! -losses -on lines under construction. This return had c-nly recently -been placed before the House. One aspect of railway ' construction which had received weighty consideration -of the Government, and which would demand the earnest attention of the committee, was what could be done with employees if work were stopped. Referring to the suggestion, tha-t work should bo held up till 'the committee had reported, Mr -Ransom -said that such an abrupt stoppage-' would create a serious economic problem 1 as the result of an increase-in unemployment. Tie felt the committee should be given the opportunity to report at am early date and,, if necessary, it would then be possible to appoint a recess committee to deal further with the subject. This iwould- be especially desirable -if a majority of the House considered 1 the construction! policy was wrong. ’Phe motion was carried. The House went- into -committee of supply to deal with the Estimates,

and the consideration of the vote for the Department of Health was resumed. Replying to Mr Samuel, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy (Minister of Health) said that- in every case the expressed consent of a patient was obtained before medical students were admitted to St. Helen’s homes.

Mr W. L. Martin took exception to the appointment of the retiring Direc-tor-General of Health as adviser to the department at a salary of £SOO yearly. He contended this was being done purely as a means of awarding superannuation, whereas the DirectorGeneral Iliad had the opportunity of joining the superannuation scheme while he was in receipt of a salary, but had refused. Mr Martin added that the appointment of an adviser would be an unwarranted reflection on the new Director-General. He moved that the total vote for the department should be reduced by £IOO as an indication of the House’s: disapproval of the appointment. The amendment was supported by Messrs W. E. Barnard. J. S. Fletcher and H. S. S. Kyle.

The debate was proceeding when the House adjourned at 1 p.m.