BACK TO POLITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22389, 8 April 1936, Page 15

BACK TO POLITICS

CONTROL OF SERVICES WARNING NOTE ISSUED BOARD SYSTEM A WISE ONE [Br TELEGRAPH SPECIAL RJ.PORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A warning to proceed carefully in bringing numerous services back under political control was issued to the Government by the Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition—Wallace) during the second reading debate on the Government Railways Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Hamilton said he did not think Parliament was constituted for the purpose of controlling services such as the railways, for that tended to lead it into administering the business of New Zealand.

Mr. W. J. Jordan (Government — Mauukau): Parliament does not administer the departments.

Mr. Hamilton: That is what it is going to do. There will be a great deal more responsibilitj - on the Government. However, I wish it luck.

Mr. F. W. Schramm (Government —■ Auckland East): Parliament must be supreme.

Better Bun Independently • Mr. Hamilton: Yes, but it should keep itself out of those things that can be run better without. "Unemployment, the banks and the railways were all being brought back under political control, Mr. Hamilton said, and it looked as though transport was going back also. The Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple: It is going back all right. Mr. Hamilton: Oh, well, good luck to you. It is a thorny subject. Mr. Semple: Some one has to tackle it. Mr. Hamilton: That is so, but it is doubtful if the best way of doing so is to return it to political control. The railways had been very well run by the board, continued Mr. Hamilton, and he had been very sorry to hear the speech by the Minister, the Hon. I). G. Sullivan, on the subject of board members. It was the first speech by a Minister of the Labour Government bringing in a bill and he was sorry that the Minister had started off on such a low plane. He had used the muck rake too much. More " Facts " Promised Mr. Sullivan: I will have the opportunity of repb'ing later and you will be sorry you said that. I will give you a few more facts. Mr. Hamilton: When you descend to personalities and make accusations against public men, that places the debate on a lower plane than is necessary. It is all right to attack the principle. Mr. Sullivan: You want me to suppress facts. I don't propose to do that.

Mr. Hamilton said it was a debatable point whether board management was preferable to control by a Minister, but he believed that the board system was justified. "There is a popular cry against boards," he added, "but I think the board system is a wise one."

Mr. Schramm: It is a political board anyway. Mr. Hamilton: No, it is not. It has been taken out of the hands of the Minister.

MEMBERS OF BOARD

REFERENCE IN HOUSE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEW Regret that the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan, should have seen fit to make personal comment regarding the members of the Railways Board in his speech in the House of Representatives, is expressed by the executive of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. At a meeting of the executive yesterday, the following resolution was carried: —"This executive places on record its regret that in moving the Railways Amendment Bill, the Minister has seen fit to make personal comments regarding the members of the Railways Board that convey reflections on their integrity. It expresses the opinion that the making of such attacks on those who have undertaken duties and accepted responsibilities when acting in public affairs will tend to prevent the performances of services to the State by many who are best qualified to advance and preserve the public interests."