DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18843, 18 October 1924, Page 13

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

reaching a compromise,

UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS.

BILL PASSED WITHOUT CHANGE.

[BY TELEGRAM.—SPECIAL REPORTER. ] WELLINGTON. Friday.

The final stages in arranging a compromise over the waterfront railway formed a curious episode in the House of Representatives in the early hours of this morning. The ordinary rules of procedure were forgotten for the time being. In place of set speeches there was a considerable time spent in personal discussion between the Prime Minister the Minister for Railways and Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata). "When it concluded the Speaker remarked that the proceedings had been highly irregular, but he had permitted it for th i/:i one occasion.

Disentangled from the conversational discussion in which it was arranged the compromise is as follows:A conference is to bo convened by the Minister, consisting of one representative each of the Auckland City Council, the Harbour Board, the Devon port, Takapuna, Northcote and Birkenhead Borough Councils, and the Waitomata County Council. The Minister is to preside. 'Failing agreement the senior magistrate for the Wellington district is to act an arbitrator, his decision to be final.

Other speakers besides those already reported participated in the later stages of the debate - when Mr. Massey asked for leave to speak a second time. "He said he had had a talk with the member for Waitomata and the Minister for Railways, and as a result, it had been agreed that the trains should not run until the local bodies concerned had arrived at a proper understanding for tha safety of the public. Mr. Coates: It may be in the running of the trains, not necessarily an underground tunnel. Mr. Massey assented to that. He said ho was not an engineer, but he thought" possibly a tunnel would not be practicable, as the salt water might come in. An overhead bridge might do. Mr. Coates: A man in front on a horse —that is all you want. Mr. Wilford: Down in IJunedin a man going in front of a steam roller was run over by it. A Member: The middle of the road.

Mr. Massey: I hope the member will take warning. He hoped the local bodies would come together. There might have to be an arbitrator. He asked whether the Minister for Public Works would be acceptable. Mr. Harris: No, I can't accept him.

' Mr. Massey: Then, a magistrate. Mr. Harris: May I suggest that all the local bodies should agree. An informal discussion followed, -with the result, that the agreement, as recorded above, was reached. _ , A further reference to the question was made by the Minister for Railways, when replying. Mr. Goates said that what the Prime Minister had arranged "was acceptable to him. The clause relating to the Quay Street railway was most important provincially. No conditions could go into the bill. The bill was read a second time, and the Speaker was putting to the House that it be set down for committal next, sitting day. "Put it through," came from several quarters in a weary House. "Let us go home," was another suggestion.. 0 The bill was put through committee without a word, read a third time, and passed.