RAILWAY BILL PASSED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 2

RAILWAY BILL PASSED

UPPER HOUSE VOTE. Per Press Association. . WELLINGTON, April 22. In the Legislative Council to-day, replying to the second reading debate on the Government Railways Amendment Bill, the Leader of the Council (Hon. Mark Fagan) said legislation would be introduced to see that the unearned increment arising from land improved by new railways went to the State. With the removal of the autocratic Railway Board the ground would be cleared for the unification and co-ordination of transport. Mr Fagan said he had refrained from mentioning the names of Railway Board members, but mention has been made in the Council. At no stage had any member of the Government attributed any ulterior motive to any member of the board. Mr Reese's name had been mentioned in the Council, and Mr Fagan contended that it was unfair on the part of the late Government to subject Mr Reese to the ordeal to which he had been subjected. Dealing -with the abolition of the board as part of Labour’s platform, Mr Fagan said Ministrs were clear and definite on the point that it was a definite plank put before the people. Specific mention might not have been made of the Railways Board, but it was definitely said that boards which were doing work which the Government did not want them to do would be abolished, and hoards administering the Government’s policy would he allowed to remain. The Government would see that when Ministerial control was restored to the railways the maladministration which had occurred under previous Governments would not occur. Before <~>.-y line was constructed in New Zealand or a partly completed line finished, proper estimates would he made and a full report put before Parliament before anv money was asked for When control of the railways had passed back into the hands of the Minister, there would be no losses in the department as far as services rendered to the people were concerned. Mr Fagan quoted an extract from a report made by the General Manager of Railways to* the Minister regarding the board system of control. An extract read, by Mr Fagan stated that recently the' acting-chairman of the board had referred to the fact that the board had done nothing to vrealise the Railway Department and that the board was receiving credit to which it was not entitled. Thq actingchairman mentioned that board members were only playing with their imaginations if thev thought they had been responsible for the improved showing of the department. The Bill was read the second time bv 23 to 6, those opposing it being Hon. W. H. Hayward. Hon. L.M. Isitt, Hon. R. Masters. Hon. W. Perrv, Sir Heaton Rhodes and Hon. F. Waite. The Bill was put through the Committee stage aud passed.