STATE OF RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20678, 25 September 1930, Page 13

STATE OF RAILWAY.

ALLEGATION BY MEMBER.

AUCKLAND-PAPAKURA SECTION.

IMMEDIATE INQUIRY PROMISED.

[BT TELEGRAFH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Attention to the state of the railway track between Auckland and Papakura was called when the estimates of tho Railway Department were under consideration in the House of Representatives to-day. Speaking on behalf of the member for Manukau, Mr. W. J. Jordan, who was suffering from a severe cold, Mr. W. Nash (Labour —Hntt) said the track between Auckland and Papakura waß a danger to tho travelling public, as a result probably, of the small staff in charge of the line. "Tho track is neglected and has not been receiving tho attention it should," said Mr. Nash. "A plate-laying gang that used to go out to emergency cases has boen disbanded. There have been two recent derailments on tho AucklandPapakura section and the member for Manukau alleges that these were due to tho track not being cared for as it should be. Its present bad state is due to the heavier rolling stock and increased traffic with no compensating increases in the operating staff to look after the line." The Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, said the statement* made was a very serious one. "I will undertake to have an immediate examination made of the line in question," he said. "I doubt very much if that portion of tho line or any other portion is in such a state a i to be a danger to life and property and if the position is as stated remedial action will be taken immediately."

WORKERS' HOMES SCHEME. DWELLINGS AT GREY LYNN. REQUEST FOR INQUIRY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A lengthy petition dealing with the workers' dwellings erected at Grey Lynn by the Auckland City Council was presented in the House to-day on behalf of R. A. Cowley and J. B. Prohl, of Auckland. The petitioners asked that full inquiry be made into the financial history and the present financial position of the workers' dwellings and their present legal ownership.

It was asked that the House should defer meantime the passing of legislation permitting tho Auckland City Council to spend a sum of £3945 described as "gratuitous gifts" in tho form of repairs, pergolas and porches, which the petitioners claimed to be economically unjustifiable and inequitable, until and unless tho council resumed formal legal ownership of tho properties, many of whose owners still desired to surrender thpm.

The legislation referred to in the petition is contained in a clause in the Auckland City Council and Motuihi Island Domain Board Empowering Bill which was favourably reported on by the Local Bills Committee yesterday.

QUESTION. OF PROCEDURE. RIGHTS OF THE COUNCIL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. "The Council is in duty bound to maintain its right under the Constitution Act to initiate or amend such measures and consequently cannot admit that the privileges of the House have been infringed by the initiation of this bill in the Council." This opinion was expressed in a message from the Legislative Council concerning the Coroners Amendment Bill and read by Mr. Speaker in the House of Representatives to-day. The bill originated in tho Upper House and on going to the House of Representatives the question was raised whether, being a money bill, the course adopted had been legal. A resolution was passed by the Council in which it was stated that due consideration had been given to the view of the House that the bill infringed its privileges. "Tho bill does not purport to create any charge upon the public revenues or to impose taxation," the resolution read. "Its sole effect is to confer on the Supreme Court power to direct a second inquest. In as much as every power affecting a matter of public concern conferred by Parliament on a Court involves expenditure of public moneys when the Court proceeds to exercise the power, agreement by the Council with the view of the House would apparently concede that the privileges of the House prevent initiation in the Council of bills conferring jurisdiction on the Courts of the Dominion." Tho message was set down for consideration next sitting day.