POLITICAL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6624, 14 September 1908, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES

iW'rrin:' in the House cf RoprcvenIntive’i to the loos of rates likely to ensue to local bodies through the acquirement of Ihe ALuinwaHi line by tho Government, A;r Field said the bodies would be nut to considerable loss. In the ease of .special rates being paid by the company, provision would have to he made for them, and no doubt the requests of tho local bodies would receive due consideration. The reason why lord bodies had never asked to have the line taken over was on account of the loss in rates widen would ensue. Mr Ilerric.s thought the local bodies had a substantial grievance, and amnio compensation should be given to the bodies who suffered .any less of revenue. An opposite view was hold by Air Boole, who deprecated tho hand-feeding of public bodies from tho public Treasury, as it seemed to him that if tho public bodies referred to received assistance other bodies had a similar right to tho Government subsidy. Tho Prime Minister, in replying, did not giie any indication regarding tho attitude the Government would take in the matter. “I believe in State-owned railways in the interests of the people from any standpoint you like to look at it.”—The Prime Minister.

“Don’t make any mistake.” was the advice given to the Premier in the House when quoting figures relative to tho Alanawntu railway, “if I made as many mistakes us you I would go and hang myself,” was the vigorous retort of the Prime Minister. f - Looking at it from the question of expediency—from the point of view of the Government—and I am speaking ns a friend of the Government, although X am a member of the Independent Labour party—l cannot seo tho necessity for the measure. I am not one of those who has lost confidence in the Government. I believe they arc doing their best, and are desirous of doing their best for labour and the workers of this Dominion. Even M 1 do not approve of the measures they may take, I willingly give thorn what they arc entitled to —and that is credit for good intentions and good desires.— Hon. J. Bigg on tho Second Ballot Bill.

T'ho position of tho employees of the Manavratn Company was referred to by Mr Field in the House last week. Ho said ho had always understood that tile men would come under the supcianimation scheme from its very commencement, but under the acquirement pill it appeared that they were only to be regarded as ollicers of the Government railway service as from December Gth, 1908. He always understood that service in the _ company would rank the same as (service in the Government, mu! he did not think the Govci uncut railway servants would object to this. If the danse read as ho thought, it would be inflicting an injustice on the men. The I remier said it was not uossiblc—and he did not want to convey any wrong impression—io take over the whole ox the men and place them in exactly the same position in the Government service as they occupied in the company. The Government intended to take over tho Whole of the men, to treat them fairlv and squarely, and to merge them" in with the other employees without placing them at any disadvantage.