MINISTER’S REPLY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8558, 22 October 1913, Page 8

MINISTER’S REPLY

The Hon. W. Fraser, in reply, said he never had any intention to move to refer tho hill to a committee, but ho was of opinion that a committee should be set up, not to inquire into whether tho cars should be altered, but to inquire into tho best practical mode to give effect to tho wishes of members of the House. Ho was confident that if his motion had been carried, the committee would havo mot and reported by this time, but unfortunately he had been approached and asked if he would send tho hill to a committee. Ho had replied, “No,” although ho was of tho same opinion as that which he expressed last week. The House came to the conclusion last Wednesday that this work had to he done without any further delay. The committee, Ire maintained, instead of causing tho delay, would facilitate the work. If they attempted to draft amendments in committee of the whole House, they got confusion worse confounded, , though there was no such trouble with a small select committee. There never was any agreement between tho Wellington Corporation and himself. He related his meeting with the city authorities twelve months ago, and he had asked how soon could they alter these cars? They said they could do one a month; he had said that that was not enough, and the House would not be satisfied. Ho urged that they should do two a month, and that they would have to push on with' the work. Then they had given an assurance that the work would he pushed on. The authorities had admitted to him since that they could alter three cars a month, and, therefore, they could have done the work more expeditiously. He was glad to see that the House was in a more reason able frame of mind upon this matter. “STOP THE CARS!” Last Wednesday the cry was “Stop the cars! Don’t let them run I” The member for Awarua had moved an amendment, the effect of which was to stop the cans at once. Yet tho hon. gentleman said that night that he (Mr Fraser) was responsible for the present position. If, as Sir Joseph Ward said, the bill was ineffective, then it was Sir Joseph Ward’s fault, for ho (Mr Fraser) would not have allowed any committee that was set up to waste time. However, the House did not adopt that attitude now. H© had fixed four months as the limit in tho hill because towards the end of the previous debate several members had suggested four, some six, some three. Ho himself believed it was impossible to alter tho whole of the cars in four months, hut in committee if anybody moved that tho period should be, extended to a little more reasonable one, he would not oppose it. The wisest thing to do was to let the hill go to a committee. Tho witnesses were in Wellington all ready. Mr Fraser also said that it was impossible for the corporation to alter the cars and build new cars at the same time. Mr Witty: “Can’t they build them outside their own works?” “RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS.” Mr Fraser: “ That’s what you would learn if you set up a committee.” If tho committee decided that the period should be extended by two or three months, surely the setting up of a committee would cause no delay. Sir-Joseph .Ward: “What do you intend to do, then?” Mr Fraser: “ I intend to move the second reading of tho bill—that’s what I intend to do.” Sir Joseph Ward: “I know, hut what procedure are you going to take with the hill? Surely that’s a civil question!” Mr Fraser: “ Has the hon. gentleman been asleep? 1 forgot for the moment, though, that he was not in the House when I began to speak. I said then that I did not intend to refer the bill to any committee. 1 will leave the House to do that.” The hon. gentleman would not oppose tho bill; he was sure of that. Sir Joseph Ward; “ Tho responsibility is yours, in any case.” Mr Fraser said that the resolution moved by Mr Davey had been stonewalled by Sir Joseph Ward. Sir Joseph Ward: “The hon. gentleman ought to withdraw that. It is not correct.” Mr Fraser: “Oh, nonsense!” Sir Joseph Ward: “Some of your own side were speaking.” Mr Fraser: “No. The last speaker was Mr Buddo, member for Kaiapoi, who finished Lis speech with a smile on his face, looking at the clock.” Let them sink these personal differences, and whether the bill went to a committee or not, let members bring down amendments that would, make it a practical measure. He did not want to fix a date within which this work could not be done, and he urged the House to take a wise view and grant a reasonable time. He was going right on with the bill; if the House desired to put the hill before a Select Committee, he would not oppose it, but he certainly would not move in that direction. The bill was read a second time on the voices.