LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13170, 7 October 1914, Page 5

LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL

y DISCUSBED : AGAIN, ' - * (Pnr Pross Association), WELLINGTON, Oct 0, Tho ITon.no this afternoon wont into commit!eo on tho Local Railways Bill. The' Hon. ftfr Frnsor announced that ho I was prepaid! to eliminate-' Clause 00, which pjovides that a Board may, with, the consent of tho Governor, sell, lew, 'assign, oi part with a railway, and to which so much opposition had beon shown. ' ■■' ■ ''■.': y ■ ■<'.^.l''

'• Messrs McCnllum and, Buddo, wliiKi 'admitting that tho Bill had some.good •points,'said its main features were such' that unless it was amended they mint 'continue their oppositions.;:, ;/ : Dr Newman said the Bill .was a benighted Bill, one that came out of tho, 'dark, ages, it came to the House-and rollled a log .and got the country to'tako financial failures over. All the wanted was good r.oads arid'motor trac-' tion. ■'< ■ ■■' ' : ' : ; /' : ,-'■

, Mr Han'an twitted' the Government with Dr Newman's criticism, ani said tho Bill was retrogressive. Mr Hindinai'sh'failed to'lnderstand the' opposition to the Bill'! '.--•''.' .'. Messrs McKcnzie, Newman, Forbes, iPcarce, Ell, Witty, .Veiteii, Russell, and Payne, continued the discussion, which followed closely on the, lines of the second reading debate,.'. ,

The Hon., W. Fraser said the Bill' provided foMrll.the objections raised by the Opposition. All tlie Bill did was to give settlers themselves the right' to build a line, and the Government would not find the money. The Opposition continued its criticism, the arguments'of the speakers all being directed against'the principle of the measure, ...

Sir James Carroll declared that the Bill shows that the .Government is at' the confessional, and it is a practical acknowledgement, that they are not able to meet the requirements of the country and were trying to shelve tho responsibility on lo the shoulders of the settlers.' He did not object lo district railways, but Ihe Bill attempted to do the right thing in the wrong way. Clause one was passed at 10,55 p.m,

At midnight lh« Committee was discussing clause ;i, lo which Mr Voitch had moved an amendment, providing that each petition for the constitution of a line should-set forth ui full the route, estimated cost of the work, unimproved value of land through which the lino passed, the terminal points mid sidings, the estimated revenue, ,tlie names of Ihe petitioners, mid the rateable value of, tho land held by such 'individuals.

The Minister refused to accept the' amendment which was rejected. The Opposition moved a series of amendments to the succeeding clauses, hut as flic Minister refused to accept them they were not pressed to a division. An exception was provided'in an amendment to sub-clause H of Clause G, moved by Mr Ell, limiting the franchise; for the election of members of a Board to one ratepayer one vote, 'flu amendment was lost by 2fl to 21. Clause (! was passed at 12.55 a.m.,. and after that rapid progress wa.v made, the committee now (MO a.m.), being at Clause <l!l. • 'Mr Yoitch niovod an Clause 'l.'!, restricting rating on boroughs, but this was 'withdrawn on the Minister promising to reconsider tho Clause. ' . Clause 90 was struck out on the motion of the Minister, and--the Bill tlwn passed without further amendment.