EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 176, 27 July 1907, Page 2

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The PREMIER, continuing, quoted figures illustrating the great development which had taken place in the railway traffic since 1895, and the efforts of the Government to cope with the increase. He pointed out that 129 locomotives and 468 passenger cars had been added to the rolling-stock since 1895. He showed that in many other respects demands had been met :by increases up to and over 100 per cent". Proceeding, he stated that there was no difference between the class ot ' rolling-stock in the two Islands, and the same rates was in force from end to end of New Zealand. Haulage m the South was much shorter than m the North, and it was futile to endeavour to strike a general average. Competitive rates were in operation only where steamer services had to be taken into account. The Hurunui- •"*-' Bluff section was at present served with the maximum service. He showed - ■ that the North Island, because its principal line was incomplete, was in a different position from the South. The . whole railway system, in the matter of results, had to be taken as one. Local rates were certainly in operation on all systems to meet particular cases,

but the statement that-differentiation operated differently in the two Islands wS Correct. Reviewing the increase in the cost of construction, he pointed out that the permanent way was built to a higher standard than m the early days, in accordance with the heavier loads they were required to^carryDurfng the time he had been Minister for Always the weight of locomotives had been increased by 30 tons. Dealing with the co-operative system, he defended it in a vigorous manner pointing out that work had been found by this means for large bodies of workmen who would otherwise haw been workless. On the whole, the .cooperative system had beena good thing for the Colony. In conclusion, he_as~ serted that the railway system of New Zealand was second to none the world, and had been, responsible tor great and lasting good to the Colony. Mr HERRIES, replying, stated that the revenue derived from the M-uru-nui-Blnff line was steadily decreasing. Referring to accidents on the railways of the Colony, he asserted that the per centage was very great. In WUO the percentage-of accidents to employees was 1 in 24, and in 1906 1. in_ 20| whereas in England the figures for 1904 were 1 in 50 and in 1905 1 in 154. Mr MASSEY (Franklin) said, that at the present time the railways in the North Island earned more per mile than the railways in the South Island. He did not agree with the Premier that when the North Island Main' Trunk line was completed the earnings of the North Island lines per mile would show, a reduction. He had been over the route, and was convinced that when the line opened it would increase the earnings of the North Island lines. The timber alone in the King Country would represent good earnings, by freight on the railways. Heucontended that miners and mine-owners lost considerably through the insufficiency of rolling-stock on the Auckland lines. So much was this loss that out, of 57 working days the miners in the Htintly mine lost 13 days'- work, representing to each man an average of £31 10s 8d per year. Mr Massey also briefly criticised the valuation, system of the Colony. </ Mr FISHER (Wellington Central) said that he intended to place some figures before the Premier in respect to the audit system of the Colony, as, in his opinion, the time was ripe for the system to be altered. It was provided under the Public Revenue Act, 1891, that all vouchers should be returned to the Audit Department. This was not done. He urged that the Canadian audit system should.be adopted, and if not that the Public Accounts Committee should be empowered to call persons and examine them in connection with the accounts.

Mr James ALLEN (Bruce) pointed out that the cost of running per mile of the railways had considerably increased since 1897, when the cost; per annum was £149 per mile, and in 1906 £252. He added that the Railway Department paid too much for the State coal used. He asserted that officers of the Civil Service who had passed the competitive examination were being blocked in promotion, owing to other officers being promoted who had passed no examination. He mentioned four instances where Clerks of the Court had been appointed—one a policeconstable who never passed any examination for the Civil Serivce. The Hon. MrMcGOWAN (Minister for Justice) said that the practice of the Department had been to appoint policemen as Clerks of the Court in small places, as it was not advisable to place cadets in such positions. These policemen made most excellent clerks. He asserted that he would not take the responsibility of sending young men to take a position of. responsibility in places which, owing to scarcity of accommodation, made it necessary to utilise hotels. He added that none of the appointments complained of blocks the, promotion of clerks who had passed the Civil Service examination. » Messrs OKEY (Taranaki), MILLS (Wairau) and LANG (Manukau) continued the debate.

The PREMIER said that the position at Huntley was that the proprietor had no hoppers or anything that would hold 100 tons of coal, but expected the Railway Department to supply waggons to be hauled by horses to the mines, there to await loading. No such practice was adopted in any other portion of;the" Colony, but where waggons had to wait demurrage was charged. The Huntley coal-mine owners should provide their own hoppers and waggons. Referring to accidents on the railway, the Premier explained that the slightest accident was recorded, even when a man did not leaye his work. In conclusion, he claimed that the work of the Railway Department was being carried on satisfactorily, and the amount set down on the Loan Bill was sufficient to maintain the standard. Mr ALLISON (Waimate) stated that the Railway Department declined to allow the Huntley colliery to provide its own trucks, and the cause of loss to the mine-owners and miners was the lack of waggons and haulage power, with the result that thousands of tons of Newcastle coal ha dbeen imported which could have been supplied by Huntley. The PREMIER maintained that the Railway Department was doing all possible to meet demands. The Bill, which provides for £623,----000 was put through all its stages, and passed. The House adjourned at 11.59 p.m.