MAIN ROADS CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18235, 31 October 1922, Page 8

MAIN ROADS CONTROL.

PERSONNEL OF BOARD.

INCREASE IN MEMBERS.

"ADOPTED UNDER PRESSURE." [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER-]

WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The conference between representatives of tho Legislative Council and of the House of Representatives to-night on certain clause* of the Main Highways Bill kept members about Parliament Buildings until a late hour. The House had aw- ' posed of the business on the Order Paper at 9.50 p.m.. when the sitting was adjourned pending the outcome ok the conference. „ , , . Tho House 'passed the Bill last week, but when tho measure went to the Legis•lativo Council on Saturday the Statutes i Revision Committee of that chamber recommended the striking out of sub-clause (2) of dause 21 and clause 22, which enabled the board to reduce its contribution to"the costs of the construction or maintenance of roads if insufficient funds were available. This was adopted in Committee, The Council amended clause 0, sub-clause (e), thus enabling the Minister to appoint two members to tho board to represent Countv Councils, instead of one as' provided in tho original clause. Under tho original Bill, the Government, with the casting vote of the Chairman, had three votes and outside interests two. With the Council's amendments tho board would have two representatives of councils one representative of motorists, one member of the Public Works or any State department who is to bo chairman, and one other member an officer of the Public Works Department, This would give equal, voting strength to the Government and outside interests. When tho Bill came back to the House, tho Lower Chamber agreed to the Council's amendments, with tho exception of that to clause 5, and, the Council remaining obdurate, managers were appointed to confer on the point. The representatives of the House returned at 12.10 a.m., when the Hon. J. G. Coatcs explained that it had been agreed that there should be two representatives of the Counties Association on the board, one for each Island. To balance this, instead of one member of the Public Works Department or other Government Department, there would bo two, one of whom would bo chairman. This would increase the personnel of the j board to six. The Minister said the amendment was not in the interests of the measure, but he had agreed to it under pressure. In tho Bill, it was provided that the term of office of the board should be three years. It has been suggested that the clause relating to the term of office j should bo deleted, as it is not consid* ered proper that a board of six members should be appointed for three years to return a report in 12 months' time. An amendment v to give effect to this will probably be introduced by GovernorGenerafs Message, and if adopted will mean that the members of the board will hold office during tho Governor-General's pleasure. FRANCHISE FOR CHATHAMS ATTACHED TO LYTTELTON. SEPARATE NATIVE VOTE. [BX TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The Legislature Amendment Bill (No. 8), whioh was passed by the House to-! day, extends the- boundaries of the Lyttelfcon electorate to include the area of the Chatham Islands. For the purpose of the Licensing Act, however, the islands are to continue as a special licensing district. A special supplementary roll,is to be prepared for the purposes of the election of a Maori representative. The islands are to form part of the western Maori electoral district. The forthcoming poll is to 'bo taken in such manner as prescribed by regulations to be made. When the Bill was in the seconu reading stage, the Prime Minister said the right to vote had been asked for by the people of the Cbatbaras, but it was difficult to determine to which electorate to attach the islands. As the business of the I islands was done with Lyttelton, it was decided that the white residents of tho islands should vote in that electorate. The Maori residents had -been consulted and thev had decided on the Western Maori district, represented by Sir Maui Pomare, as thev belonged to the same people as th© Minister. In answer to a question, Sir Maui Poraare said there were between 400 and 500 people on the island, of whom more than half were Maoris. The Bill was finally passed.

CAMPAIGN ALLEGATIONS. GIFT GUNS AND STORES.

REPOBT BY COMMITTEE. [BT TELXOBAPH.~rBEB3 ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The report ol the Defence Committee, which inquired into the charges made by Colonel McDonald during his political campaign concerning the presentation of obsolete rifks and guns Jo Colonel Nichols and the loss of stores, was laid on the table of the House to-day. The committe» after recounting the circumstances under which the rifles and guns were given to Colonel Nichols, say it is clear from the evidence that Colonel E. McDonald does not charge tho Minister for Defence or the department with irregularities or maladministration. Mto the stores alleged by Colonel McDonald to be missing, these have been audited by the Government auditor and properly written off in accordance with the authority of Parliament. Tho majority of tho stores referred to were not actually missing, but had been used by the New' Zealand Expeditionary Force and taken, overseas. The committee is of opinion that the military authorities took imme diato action to minimise losses and that no irregularities took I place, and there is no reflection on the department or , Minister. With respect to further charges rnado by Colonel McDonald and referred to in j the House, the committee recommended it bo left to the Minister to make a statement in reply. WHANGAEEI LINE.

COST OF MAINTENANCE. [BX TELEGRAPH.—'SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Some weeks ago Mr. V. H. Reed (Bay of Islands) asked for a return showing details of the expenditure .on the Whangarei-Kawakawa-Kaikoho \ railway section, especially the cost of relaying rails and other quasi-capital expenditure, for the year ended March 31, 1922. A return, fieadt'.d "maintenance only," was presented to the House to-day, showing that the total expenditure was £56,344, The principal items are :—Track surfacing, £9737; tradk renewals, £13,511: ballasting, £2970; bridges, culverts, and drains, £5663; buildings, £2497.

NATIVE AFFAIRS. TRIBUTE TO CHAIRMAN. [JIT TELEGBAJPH. —SPECIAL BErOBTBA.} j WELLINGTON. Monday. ' The Native Affairs Committee to-day presented a report to the House, recording its high appreciation of the able and courteous manner in which the chairman, Mr. J. A. Young, had conducted the , affairs of the oomraittee.