Railway Committee

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 39, 12 September 1930, Page 5

Railway Committee

(VI R. RANSOM’S WISH. CONSTRUCTION WORK, PROFIT AND LOSS. WELLINGTON, This Day. In the House of Representatives tins morning, Hon. E. A. Ransom, in moving for the appointment of a committee to inquire into (railway construction intimated that he desired to include in the order of reference ,provision for inquiry into the financial effect of construction, and into the wisdom of expending borrowed money at the present interest rate on railways having regard to the availability of other forms of transport to meet the requirements. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates asked wrethe*r the committee would ho given power to order any investigations.

Mr. Ransom said if the committee found it necessary for its powers to increased it could report hack to the House.

SCOPE TOO WIDE. Ho considered the inclusion of tbe suggestion of Mr. Coates would widen the scope of tbe committee’s work to a rather wide degree. Mr. H. EL Holland asked whether it would he possible to alter the clause dealing with the transport of bulky freights so that it would not be confined to long distance transport. He said unless this alteration were made the whole question of the carriage of coal in Westport-Inangahua section would be excluded from inquiry. Mr. A, M. Samuel said it would be futile to appoint such a committee. Baliway construction was a policy matter and would he dictated by the futile to such a committee NON-POLITICAL CONTROL. The only solictiou of the railway problem would bo non-political control . Mr. P. Fraser expressed concern that the Government should he now feeling uncertainty on the matter about which it had been so definite a fdw months ago. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson said he thought it childish that the problem shock! be tackled in the way the Government proposed, and be ]A'otested against leaving the matter until so late in the session. It would be impossible to cover thq task adequately in the brief spare of time.

Mr. Poison expressed regret the Government had formerly refused to include railway construction,.in the work of the Royal Commission on the operation of the railways.. He wa s glad the Government was now proposing to make inquiry into railway construction, but he desired to protest against the manner in which it was being done.

Full inquiry should he held during the recess and the Government should hold up the work on the lines at present under construction uptil the committee had reported. UNEMPLOYMENT. Mr. McDougall pointed out if such a course were adopted a large number of men would bo thrown out ot work. Mr. Ansell described the proposal to appoint a committee as “deathbed repentance on the part of the Government”. Ho was pleased the inquiry was to ho held, hut it was unfortunate the Government hud not as early as last year taken up the suggestion of the Leadeg of the Opposition that such a course should he adopted. Mr. Sullivan said it was a pity the order of reference of the conir mittee had (not /been extended to include .road construction. Mr. Fletcher suggested the Government would be well advised to hold up the appointment of the committee till the recess. Hon. W. R. Taverner said the opportunity *vae being gjiven to raise railway construction above the level of party questions. Ho believed good work could he done bv the committee it was pmposed to set up. Air. Leu Martin aiil A Dr. Black urged that the Question should be one fox recess inquiry. The latter also asked that the committee should he given power to cal! for /returns, the House approved of the amendments to the motion as outlined by MV. Ransom ami also that suggested by Air. Holland that an inquiry into the transport of bulky freights should not he confined to long distance lines. MINISTER’S REPLY. Air. Ransom, replying to the debate said he thought it wise that Air. Holland’s suggestion had been adopted. Ho did not agree with Air. Samuel that railway eoi/Vruetion was a

matter for the Government of the day. Such national problems were issues for which the .whole House should take a measure of responsibility. For that reason it was only fair the House should have all information that was at the disposal of the • Government. He defended the delay in the appointment of the committee on the ground that it was important before an inquiry commenced there should be available for the committee full details as to estimated losses on lines tinder construction. This return had only recently been placed before the House one aspect of railway construction which had received the weighty consideration of the Government and which would demand the earnest attention of the committee was what would be done wtih employees if work were stopped. Referring to the suggestion that ■work should be held up till the committee had reported, Mr Ransom said such an abrupt stoppage would create a serious economic problem, as a result of the increase in unemployment. He felt the committee should •be given an opportunity to report at an early date, and if necessary It would then be possible to appoint a recess committee to deal further with the subject. This would be especially desirable if the majority of the House considered the construction policy was wrong. The motion was carried. LINES UNDER CONSTRUCTION. COMMITTEE TO BE AIM*OUSTED. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Hon. E. A. Ransom gave notice in the House of Representatives to-day of his intention to move that a committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to consider the railway lines 'under construction as enumerated in the statement which was laid on the table of the House by the Prime Minister on August 22, and to make recommendations thereon, having regard to all relative circumstances, the inquiry to include; (1) Land settlement and, probable development in districts which would be served by the continuation of such railways. (2) An estimation of the benefit an'd convenience to the general public. (3) The effect ou the finances of the Railway Department. (4) A provision for interest and operating charges in the case of railways where the revenue is estimated to be insufficient. (5) The relative cost and u + PUy of rail and road transport of (a; primary products to ports, (b) distribution of imports, (e between centres of distribution of imports, (c) between centres of population, (d) over gaps between uncompleted sections of lines, having regard to cost of transhipments at existing railheads, (e) for developmental pur-

poses. (6) The problem of harbour development with relation to the long distance transport of bulky freights such as timber grain and coal. (7) The extent to which their completion will induce additional traffic on existing lilies. (8) An unemployment relief committee to consist of Messrs Healy, Hogan, Howard, Jones, Jordan, Lye, MacMillaia, Taverner, Veitdr and "Waite,