GRIM ANALOGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22424, 21 May 1936, Page 13

GRIM ANALOGY

TEANSPOET CONTROL MINISTER AND OPERATORS; MR. BROADFOOT'S CRITICISM "BILL A RETROGRADE STEP" [by telegraph—special rkpohtee] WELLINGTON, Wednesday An analogy with the scaffold was drawn by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition— Waitomo) in discussing tlie Government's attitude toward its Transport Licensing Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. "The situation creates in my mind a picture of the scaffold," said Mr. Broadfoot. "The hangman is talking to his victim. He says, 'I want to do everything possible for you. I am not prepared to discuss the principles of why j'ou are to be handed, but I am prepared to discuss the texture of the rope, the fitting of the noose and the distance of the drop.' The motor operators are on the scaffold. I leave it to the judgment of the House who is the hangman." The Minister of Transport, Hon. It. Semple, had stated that the operators were favourable to the principles of the bill, Mr. Broadfoot continued. Several operators who were present at the conferences with the Minister had stated that they were told that principles in the bill would not be discussed or altered, but that the Minister was prepared to listen to ; suggestions for improvements in the machinery clauses. The Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nasli, had approached a dairy conference recently in just the same spirit. Apparently principles could not be questioned. Government's Function In the co-ordination and cdntrol of transport New Zealand compared mora than favourably with the rest of the world. It was the Government's function to control transport, but not to step in and take over all services co itself. "People must not 'be misled by the catchplirase that transport is a public service and not an industry," Mr. Broadfoot remarked. "If it is treated as a social service the public exchequer can be pillaged to make it pay." ! _ Under the proposal to reduce the number of transport districts to four and place one man in control of licensing for each district, said Mr. Broadfoot, the position would arise of decisions being made by four departmental officers who were under the direct control of the Minister, who himself would be the final court of appeal. They would all four foregather with the Minister and ask what he wanted to be done. They would ascertain his viewpoint and carry out his behests purely as automatons. " A Synthetic Caesar " "The Minister will not possibly be ahle to attend to all the appeal work under the bill," Mr. Broadfoot continued. "The job will be done by some departmental officer and it is a thousand to one that the Minister will never see the evidence in any appfal sent on to him for his decision. But he cannot be challenged. He is the all highest; he is a synthetic Caesar. Even Caesar's best friend, Brutus, destroyed him, and under the bill the Minister's best friend, the Minister of Railways, is given power to destroy liim. The Minister of Transport can be dominated by the Minister of Railways." In a speech last night Mr. J. Thorn (Government —Thames) had said that in Great Britain the final court of appeal in transport cases was the Minister of Transport, said Sir. Broadfoot. That applied only to passenger services Goods services were under on independent tribunal. "The whole bill is a retrograde step," concluded Mr. Broadfoot. "We are going backwards and downwards with the brakes out of action. If we could create tribunals elected by the people to handle transport in particular areas, just as the electric-power boards operate to-day, there would be some safeguard, but safeguards are to be swept overboard." I

GAOL DISTURBANCES " FULLY INVESTIGATED" NO FURTHER INQUIRY INTENDED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday No further investigation is to bo made into tlie circumstances leading to the recent disturbances in Mount Eden gaol, according to a statement made by the Minister of Justice, Hon. H. G. It. Mason, in the House of Representatives this afternoon in reply to a question by Mr. A. S. Richards (Government —Roskill). The setting up of a Parliamentary or other committee of inquiry was sought by Mr. Richards, who also asked for a thorough investigation of the administration and control of prisons in New Zealand. "The circumstances leading to the recent disturbance at Mount Eden prison have been fully investigated and reported to me," Mr. Mason said, "and it is considered that it is neither necessary nor desirable to set up a Parliamentary or other committee to investigate the matter further. I have taken pains personally to familiarise myself with the administration and control of our prison system, and from my own investigation I am satisfied that it is efficiently and humanely administered, and that no useful purpose would be achieved by arranging for an independent investigation at present."