NO TRANSPORT BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 15

NO TRANSPORT BILL.

STRONG PROTESTS MADE.

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER. TIME FOR INQUIRIES NEEDED. [BY 'J Tt.Etiß APII. —SPECIAL REPORTER. ] AV CLLIXGTON. "Wednesday. Ay ;i protest against Iho Transport Bill being shrlveil again this session, Mr. A. E. Ansell (Heform—Chalmers) moved n reduction of £5 when the Estimates in connection with the Transport Department came under the consideration of the House ot Representatives lato this evening. The (ioveinment should havo brought down legislation this session," declared Mr. Ansell. " There is an urgent need for the co-ordination of transport services. 1 would like to know what tho department has done to justify its existence. No suggestion has been brought before the House with (he object of solving the problem."

"'.I lie importance of the work, which I think all sections of Iho House would like to see undertaken, is fully recognised by me, and 1 think was fully recognised L>v my predecessors," said the Minister of li'anspurt-, the Hon. W. I>. r lavernoi\ " What is required is legislation which will have the effect of co-ordinating transport, of reducing costs and of controlling load motor service."

Avoiding Hasty Legislation. "It was necessary that wo should endeavour to collect all the- information posbio in order that hasty legislation might be avoided, if 1 had submitted proposals to tho Government based on the information in hand, the legislation would not have afforded that satisfaction to the community which I trust will be. afforded when tho Government brings down its pro. posals. Very valuable information of a statistical nature and of a highly technical character has been tabulated, and that I will liavo tho opportunity of presenting to tho House before the session ends. lam sorry that report is not ready at tho moment." " This is the most unsatisfactory statement 1 have heard since I have been in Parliament, and if Parliament, accepts it it will be doing a revolutionary thing," declared Mr. 11. G. R. Mason (Labour — Auckland Suburbs). "If tho House passes this vote without having received a report on the department's activities, can we felt tho peoplo Parliament has any sense of responsibility at all?" Salaries of Officers. A similar protest was voiced by Mr. H. Holland (Reform —Christchurch North), who added that he could not understand why such an infant department required a commissioner at a salary of £IOOO with two other officers in receipt of £BOO and £715 respectively. Outlining tho points to be included in the report of the department now being prepared tho Minister said these would include a review of the department's work since its inception, tho organisation of transport and the enforcing of regulations, land transport in New Zealand, motor transport, in its relation to tho railways. the construction, maintenance and classification of roads and loading costs, the (mechanical development of motor transport and the position of motor transDort in New Zealand compared with that of other countries and the principal motives for regulating motor transport. Members and the general public would find the report of great interest.

Mr. K. S. Williams (Reform —Bay of Plenty) said he had objected to last year's hill, firstly because lie, did not, consider it necessary to set up a. new department and, secondly, because he did not think it right that control should be, taken from the Highways Hoard. Claiming that he had been responsible for having transport put in the forefront of the. United Party's programme, Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Independent—Grey Lynn) said the problem was to have been dealt with in the, first year after the party took office and the, Government could not, escape responsibility for not tackling the question. There was talk of the session being ended within a fortnight, but 'Mr. Fletcher considered Parliament should continue to sit until all the business required for the country's good had been despatched. Complaint by Mr. Munns. Mr. G. G. Munns (Government —Roskill) said he, was disappointed that a Transport- Bill was not coming down because of the acute situation in Auckland, where the efforts to expand were stultified because the suburbs could not get, a "fifty-fifty" representation on the Auckland Transport, Board. Tt was only a fair arid just request. The onus for killing the Transport Bill last session must be taken by the Reform Party. Reform voices: Oh, rubbish! Mr. F. Waite (Reform —Glut ha) said Mr. Munns had made a plaintive wail at the. Opposition preventing the Government from doing certain things, but if the Government left the bill until the, end (if the session as if did last year and brought no bill forward at all this year surely the Reform Party could not he blamed. The debate was interrupted bv the midnight adjournment. Speculation is rife as t<> whether another adverse vote on the Estimates is likely, as the debate so far suggests an interesting division is in prospect.

COMPANY'S PROSPECTUS. CITRUS PLANTATIONS. INQUIRY BY MINISTER. |BY TEI.EGI!U'H.—M'Kf I AT. lIEF'ORTF.R. j WELLINGTON", Wednesday. .Attention to ;i prospectus issued by New Zealand films Plant.it inns, Limited, was called I>y .Mr. A. YV. Hall (Reform —Hauraki) in an urgent, question to the, Minister of .Agriculture, the Jfnu. A. ,f. Murdoch. in the. House of Representatives today. Mr. I fall said he. believed sect ions were being sold in London and he thought, the. prospectus might mislead intending settlers in New Zealand. Tho Minister said lie had seen the prospectus, but. was unable at the moment to give any information concerning the plantation, but he was calling for informal ion immediately

ARCHITECTS' INSTITUTE.

NEW CLAUSE PROVIDED, [nv TEI.EOrt APIf. —spur-[A I. REPORTER. J WELLINGTON. Wednesday. r l hp New Zoalanrl Institute of Architects Amendment, Bill was reported to (hp Hou.se of Representatives to-day by the E fin cat ion Committee with one amendment. A new provision has been inserted to the effect that the required registration shall riot prevent any person from practising as an architect or using the word architect in connection with his business, who, for ti period of not less than tbreo years before the passing of the Act, ,waß practising as an architect.