RAILWAYS BILL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 101, 9 April 1936, Page 7

RAILWAYS BILL

Measure Passed by House of Representatives TRIBUNAL EXPLAINED By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 8. In the House of Representatives this evening urgency was accorded the passing of the Government Railways Amendment Bill, and the House commenced consideration of it in committee. Opposition members provided the majority of the speakers, the Government’s action in abolishing the Railways Board and the decision to construct certain lines being criticised. Speakers again twitted the rank and file of the Government party with their silence, and a statement by Mr Forbes that his Government was quite prepared to reconsider construction of the South Island Main Trunk line when the finances were available, brought Mr E. P. Meachen (Govt.) to his feet. He said he could not alk%v such a remark to pass, as since the closing down of that line the last Government had removed large quantities of gear and material and sold them for a mere song. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat.) suggested that instead of constructing expensive railway lines the Government should construct good concrete roads and make use of the modern means of travel. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan said that full infoimation would be presented to the House in connection with any project proposed to be undertaken. Referring to the setting up of a tribunal, Mr Sullivan said that some members appeared to be under a misapprehension as though the railway organisations in future were to be shut off from the Minister, and that any difference of opinion that might arise in connection with wages, hours, etc., must necessarily be dealt with only through the process of the tribunal. That was quite inaccurate. Exactly the same conditions would obtain in future as in the past. When any question arose the mon would approach the Minister and the department in the usual way, and it was only at the point where it was found not just possible to arrhe at complete agreement on all points that power was taken to set up a tribunal. Railwaymen would not be deprived of any rights they had in the past. The proposal had the approval of all the railwaymen’s organisations as well as of the Government. The short title was passed without a division being called for, the remaining clauses were passed after a short discussion, and the Bill was reported to the House without amendment. The Bill was read the third time and passed. The House rose at 5.10 p.m. until Thursday, April 16.