"RELIC OF BARBARISM,"

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13598, 7 October 1914, Page 5

"RELIC OF BARBARISM,"

LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL

ATTACKED FROM GOVERNMENT

SIDE,

FRANK FORECAST OF ITS

OPERATION

(Special to S'The Colonist.")

Wellington, Oct. 6

The Local Railways Bill, which had a lively second reading stage, encounter•ed equally severe opposition in Committee of th*e House of Representativ3s this afternoon, though the Minister for Public Works conceded one point t> hi 3 critics, thus making it quite impossible lor a local line to be sold out to a private company. An unexpected onslaught came ffoiu the Ministerial side, Dr. Newman (Wellington East) condemning the Bill 'without reservation as a benighted measure, a relic of the dark ages, criy a hash-up of an ancient Act. (Opposition applause.) "Oh, I don't want your applause," continued Dr. Newman, "I disapprove of your works altogether. A Bill was brought in years ago allowing -district railways. Everyone of them became a financial failure. Then they Tolled a log in Parliament, and the concerns were sold to the Government."

The Hon. W. Fraser: They wei-e all companies. Dr. Newman: It makes no difference. He added that in his opinion nearly every proposed branch line was not go3ng to be a feeder but a bleeder. What was much to be preferred was a scheme of motor traction. So much dissension w»3 expressed among the speaker's colleagues that the Chairman of Committees called mem"bers to order.

"It is indeed refreshing to hear a Ministerial*, member have the to denounce the iniquity of this Bill," declared Mr. Hanan. After such an exposure, how could the Government sit silent. It was simply a Bill to secure votes at any price. New Zealand was not going to keep in. the forefront of democratic progress if it went back to the parochialism of local railways. Mr. Pearce (Patea) stated that Dr. Newman's idea-of road traction would not help Taranaki, where as muoh as £8000 per mile had been spent o« roads, owing to the cost of road metal.