THE RAILWAYS REPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17588, 2 October 1931, Page 6

THE RAILWAYS REPORT

ATTITUDE OF CABINET STOPPAGE OF ALL WORK INDICATIONS IN HOUSE (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. There is good authority for stating that tlie Coalition Government lias decided to submit a resolution to Parliament approving the Railway Board 5 report recommending the stoppage of six railways under construction. The board did not report on .the Stratford Main Trunk line. The Government’s decision is based, according 'to your representative’s information. not only on the facts disclosed but also on the difficulty of borrowing money for the undertakings, which in the opinion of such a high authority cannot become interest-bear-ing. The question is to be cleared up in the House on Wednesday, when, according to the Prime Minister, the necessary resolution will be submitted for consideration. Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, inquired in the House today if the voting would be on nonparty lines. “Undoubtedly,” replied Mr. Forbes. 'There will be no attempt to get a decision except from an unfettered House.” He added that it was a question which must be decided by Parliament, and members would be perfectly free to vote as they thought in the best interests of ihe country. The whole of the proposals would be included in one motion, as the board had made the same recommendation in all cases. When Mr. W. I). Lysnar protested against tin's procedure while a petition with 8000 signatures was before the Railways Committee. Mr Forbes pointed out that thousands were being spent daily, and there must be a prompt decision as to whether or not this was to stop. Members knew the, position quite well, and delay would be a scandal. It was unsatisfactory to have hundreds of men and a lot of engineers having this hanging over them. “Tt is a most unbusinesslike proceeding,” said Mr. Forbes, “and at present we cannot afford to go on spending thousands a day because a committee is sitting.” Mr J. S. Fletcher (Inch, Grey Lynn) : Tf it is a scandal why allow it”to go on for three years? Mr. Lysnar appealed to the Speaker that the committee must be allowed to consider the petition before the House considered the matter, but the ruling was that the House possessed this power.