LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15730, 3 October 1914, Page 9

LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL.

SECOND READING CARRIED. MR. DICKSON'S VOTE. [by telegraph— SPEClAL correspondent] Wellington, Friday. The Government last night scored a signal victory with the Local Railways Bill, the second reading of which was carried by 27 votes to 12. Tho majority would have been still greater had not two men on the Government side called for the division, with the usual result that though they favoured the measure they had to give their votes with their voices. Sir Joseph Ward endeavoured to break the division 'by protesting that Mr. Escott had not given his voice against the Bill in time, but the Speaker ruled otherwise. Sir Joseph Ward said the effect of this would he that members on his side of the House would vote "deliberately contrary to fact. He also interjected a remark about "dirty business."

After the division Mr. Veitch (Wanganui) said he had heard Mr. Dickson give his voice with the " Noes," at the second time of asking, and afterwards he had voted with the "Ayes." Mr. Payne corroborated this statement, and admitted also that Mr. Veitch had asked him to refuse to act as a teller in order to force Mr. Dickson to vote " No."

In reply to the Speaker Mr. Dickson admitted at once that he had so called, ana his vote was recorded with the

•' Noes." Mr. Escottas is usual on such occasions— his position. tie was strongly in favour of the Bill, and had simply called "No" so as to get a division recorded.

The following is the division list :— Ayes (27) : R. F. Bollard, Bradney, Craigie, Fisher, Fraser, Guthrie, Harris, Hine, Hunter, McCombs, Mac Donald, Malcolm, Massey, Nosworthy, Ukey, Peorce, R. H. Rhodes. T. W. Rhodes, Scott, F. H. Smith, Statham, Sykes, R. M Thomson, J. C. Thomson, Wilkinson, Wilson, Young. Noes (12) : Atmore, Dickson, Escott, Payne, Poland, Rangihiroa, Robertson, Seddon, Sidey, Veitch, Ward, Witty. Pairs :—Ayes : Allen, Campbell, Hcriman, Huick, Herries, Newman, Anderson, Munder, Buchanan. Noes : Ngati, Brown, McCallum, leitt, Carroll, Myers, till, Colvin, R. McKenzie. In closing the debate, the Minister for Public Works said he was amazed at the criticism levelled against the Bill. He could only think members had not read the measure. There would he no power to sell or lease a private railway without the consent of the Government. The unforgivable sin of the Bill was that it was a good Hill, and likely to be popular. It would not do away with the Government construction of railways. It was intended to meet the case where settlers could not afford to wait for the Government to borrow the money to make railways. Thousands upon thousands had oeen spent upon making raids, where now there were no roads at all.