THE RAILWAYS AMENDMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 75, 10 March 1933, Page 9

THE RAILWAYS AMENDMENT

LABOUR MOTIONS REJECTED BILL THROUGH ALL ITS STAGES Wellington, Alarch 9. During the committee stage of the Government Railways Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives this afternoon Labour members endeavoured to have the measure amended in such a way that the Government’s rights would be restricted to the leasing (and not selling) of unprofitable or uncompleted lines. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier) moved amendments to this effect, but they were rejected by 38 to 23. Ah- Barnard then moved that any contract made with a private company should not become operative until it was ratified by Parliament. This was defeated by 37 to 25. Speaking on the third reading, the Leader of the Opposition expressed the opinion that the Government had taken altogether too-wide powers under the bill. If put fully into effect they would prove disastrous to the country. Air Barnard expressed regret that the House had not agreed to the amendments moved in committee. He contended that the Government had power under the bill as it stood to complete contracts with private companies without reference to Parliament. Mr Forbes gave an assurance that there was no intention of not consulting Parliament in regard to any developments that might eventuate under the bill. He could not say that any private company actually would desire to lake over one of the unprofitable or uncompleted lines, but the bill would give power for the opening of negotiations with such a company if it were formed. It would then be possible to carry the negotiations to an advanced stage, after which the proposition could be discussed by Parliament. The bill was read the third time and passed.