TO-DAY’S PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 252, 19 September 1930, Page 7

TO-DAY’S PARLIAMENT

PROGRESS OF BILLS. THE RAILWAYS ESTIMATE. COAL CONTRACT DISPUTED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 this morning. The London and New Zealand Bank Limited Amendment Bill was reported from the Committee of Selection without amendment. Mr Fraser gave notice of his intention to introduce the Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill and the British Nationality and Status of Aliens in New Zealand Amendment Bill. The City of Christchurch Electric Power and Loan Empowering Amendment Bill (Mr J. McCombs) was introduced and read a first time. RAILWAYS ACCOUNT. Consideration of the estimate of £6,378,003 for the working railways account was resumed in Committee of Supply. The Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, said he desired to give the House the facts with reference to Mr J. S. Fletcher’s allegation that the department had not accepted the lowest tender for coal in the Waikato. Mr Veitch sated that one company had offered to supply coal at a certain figure all the year round. The Minister emphasised that the tender at the lower price was for all the year round and this was not acceptable to the department. Mr Fletcher read a telegram to the company which he said, he had been assured was the first communication the company had received on the subject. This telegram asked for a tender for a supply of coal requirements for a period of say three years. Mr Fletcher declared that there was absolutely no reference to seasonal requirements in the telegram. He challenged the Minister to show that there had been any earlier communication to this company. Mr Veitch read earlier correspondence on the subject to various companies, including the company to which Mr Fletcher had referred. He said it was quite apparent that the Government’s contract had been in the best interests of the country. Mr Fletcher said that in spite of the Minister’s assurance the facts were that two companies had offered the Government supplies at 19s per ton, whereas the Government had accepted the tender of another company at 19s 3d. He moved that the estimate be reduced by £9 as an indication that the whole question of the coal contract should be referred to the Railways Committee for investigation: The Minister insisted that Mr Fletcher had misrepresented the position. He agreed to refer the contract to the committee and the amendment was thereupon lost on the voices. The leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, again raised an objection to reductions of coal orders. He said the Minister had explained that it was necessary to work down existing supplies of inferior coal, but even it this were necessary it should have been undertaken gradually so that there would not have been the same danger of creating unemployment. Mr W. E. Parry, referring to the Waikato coal contract, suggested that it would have been wise to spread the order over a number of companies with a view to keeping a greater number of men employed. ■ Mr Veitch said the position of the coal mines in the Waikato could not be permanently dislocated. The company which had received the contract would not be a competitor, as formerly,. in the open market, which was still available to the other companies. Mr J. O’Brien urged that the department should use nothing but New Zealand coal on the railways. Mr Veitch: As far as it is humanly possible we will. Progress was reported and the House rose at 12.45 till 2.30 on Tuesday next.