PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13598, 7 October 1914, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

(Special to "Tb« Colonist."

Wellington, Oct. 6

Consideration ol the Local llailwj;>s Uiil in Committee occupied a consr.iorablo amou.it oi time in the Hou-s^ oi llepresenifiUvod Uus afternoon ano cvenin". 'Hi© Uisussion was continuo*; for so.er.il hours, Oppositionists ro-ix-atine ™&i\\ of tao obiections to the idoa of tho measure lhat wore outlined <m its rtvoud reading. Hop lying v objections that tho Bill would commit, the country to a host of mies prompted! by local jealousies i™* I™^}??^ profit, the Minister for Public stated that the Governor m Council j had power to refuse authorisation it it. was evident that the lm© was not re-j QUJIr V:ussell urged a compulsory depreciation and sinking ■ rand ci ..- Irast 2 i>er cent. . It wr-s 11 p.m. before the preliminary discussion ended, and then a number of amendments were moved to succe& siire clauses. Oppositionists seeking to provide safeguards against serious departure from the policy of State railway control. t» "i Mr Veitch moved that upon a Kailway Board raising money to construct^ local railway it should hand over its funds to the Minister for Public Works, who would construct the line and place it under the control of the Minister for Railways for administration in conformity with the Railway Act. None of these amendments were carried. \ division was taken at 1 a.m. at Mr Ell's challenge upou the clause.providing for ratepayers ol- over £2000 m capital value having two voifs in any poll of ratepayers under the Act Tire clause was retained by 29 votes The Bill was put through Committee. The House rose at 1.55 a.m.