TROUBLES OF AN EX-RAILWAY OFFICIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13999, 4 September 1907, Page 3

TROUBLES OF AN EX-RAIL-WAY OFFICIAL

SIR. CONYERS'S PETITION

• (From Ora Own'Corbespondest.) WELLINGTON, September 3. Thoro aro few pefsone in the present Houso of Representatives, who remember Mr William Conyers, formerly' in tho sorvioo of tho Now Zealand Government. Of lato years Mr Conypre lias fallen upon evil times, and in consequence of his incapacity for work hae boon petitioning Parliament for a. compassionate, allowance. Tho Railways Committee, having 'confiidored Jiis petition," to-day reported that it had no recommendation to make.

Mr E. G. Allen said lie*. ,was sorry the committee had brouglrt'dowii such a report. Mr Conyers liad been brought out to the colony by iho Government, ami he had fitted up e tlio first railway locomotive in tho colony. He hncl; boon a valuable. servant. He was now in Mellxwrno in a stato of destitution. He had lost the sight of one eye, and Iho eight of the other was now aleo atfected; in fact, ho had been physically ruined ae the result, of an accident ill connection with the'opening of the railway 'from Duncdiii to Invcrcargill. .Ho y.-iu! in charge of the train, and while looking, out of one of the carriages struck his head against a \Ater-taiik that was too doso-to tho line. Mv Allen moved that the-petition\ be referred to tho Governmont for consideration.

Sir William Steward seconded the amendment. Ho happened to bo on the train at the. time of the . accident. Ho epoko very highly o f the services to iho colony rendered by Mr Conyers. ' > Mr Thomas Maokenxic. tlioiigh sympathising' with Mr Conyors. could not see that

it was i djß in'which tho Government should bo called upon to mako a contribution. Mr Conyers hod left ths service voluntarily 1o engage Jin undertakings of Inn own, and aftonijprde he had left tho colony altogether. ' ' Mr Sidey said he did not object to the amdridmont. This was tho third tine the matter had been before- tho committee, and each time it had lhadc tho sjame recom■mcJidaJiou. Hie ■ tkugli. not

admitting,its liability to pay the full amount of £1700 retiring allowance," had jievortheless paid , that amount.

A division was called for on the.amendment, whioh was lost By 30' votes to 27. ■. Tho Prime Minister was amongst thoeo who voted for the amendment.