LOCAL RAILWAYS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 210, 9 October 1914, Page 11

LOCAL RAILWAYS.

THE BILL PASSED. I CRITICAL OPPOSITION. IPfom our own Parliamentary Reporter.] ■■; WELLINGTON, October 8. The Hon. W. Fraser moved the third reading of the Local Raihvays Bill in ;he House to-night. Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) considered ihe ; proposals under the Bill were a backward step. Members on the Government side had said the Oppositionfsts Aid not want the settlers to have the lines. This was incorrect. The settlers should have the lines, but the Government should build them. (Hear, hear.) Jffe contended the whole Bill was to help the friends of the Government, the large land-owners. The Hon. R. McKenzie (Motueka) characterised the measure as one haphazardly J drawn up for electioneering purposes. Mr J. B. Hine (Stratford), supported the Bill, and hoped they would see the effect of it in Taranaki. All they required was legislation, which would result in payable lines being established. Opposition Members: Why does not the Government build them? Mr Hine: The Government can't find the money to* build the main lines as fast as I wish. • Opposition Oh's! W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) criticised the Minister for his obstinate attitude • during the committee stage of the Bill, when he absolutely refused "genuine amendments from the Opposition side. It had been said that the Government could not find .the money to build these lightlines, but there was more than that • behind the Government's action in the Bill. It was to help their "friends, the large land-owners. Mr G. V. Pearce (Patea) supported the Bill, and warmly applauded the Government for including plural voting in the measure. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said that for v the Government to say that Sir Joseph Ward and the Opposition did not want the settlers to have railways was a shameless misrepresentation. The difference between the Opposition and the Government on this measure was on the broad point of the State ownership of all the railways. The Bill was a mere piece \of electioneering sham, and was wholly unworkable. It was an electioneering device to help two or three Taranaki members whose seats were shaky. The member for Taranaki wanted it because he could catch the votes "between New Plymouth and Opunake. Mr Russell contended that the Bill was a fraud, because there was no provision in it giving the proposed railway boards funds'for'preliminary expenditure, or power to raise them. AN EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) said that Mr Russell's speech Was one of the most extraordinary he had heard from the member for Avon. He considered that the opposition to the' Bill was bogus, because the Oppositionists would not vote against the Bill. Speaking of the financial arrangements which would be made under the Bill, he said that New Zealand was feeling the depression less than any other part of the Empire. When the war was over, the Dominion, in his opinion, would be the first to recover.

Mr W. D. S. MaeDonald (Bay of Plenty) asked why this, country would be the .first to recover! Would it not be the direct result* of the Liberal Government's progressive policy j which had brought the country to its present v _fitate pf productivity_f (Opposition ap= plause.) - ■ ■'"'-' G. EU (Christchurch South) said that the objection of the Opposition to ..the Bill was not 'based on their objections to the building of light local railways.. They wanted to see such lines established. There were ample powers under the law at present to biiijd such lines under the tramways legislation. Why should not these powers "be extended to local railways? Although he was not opposed to the establishment of local railways, he would be compelled to vote against the Bill. Replying at 2.5 a.m., the Minister said the Bill was- not an- attempt to subvert "the national policy, it was only an I 'aid to it. There was no foundation to the" statement that the Bill would prevent/the Government building railways. He pointed out that there was a limit to the borrowing of the Government in any one year, and Mr Seddon had stated in the House that he recog- , nised this fact. The opposition to the Bill was only a waste of time. The House divided .on the third reading, which was carried by 33 votes to 15. The House adjourned at 2.42 a.m.