PARLIAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19347, 30 June 1925, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 29. The House met at 7.30. NEW BILLS. Leave was given to introduce the following Bills: Summer Time (Sidey), Religious Exorcises in Schools (Isitt). Mr. Monteith gave notice of his intention to introduce a Harbour Board Amendment Bill. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Ten days’ leave of absence was granted to the Hon. Guthrie on account of illness. IMPREST SUPPLY. Imprest Supply Bill No. 1 was introduced by Governor-General’s message. After a no-con.fidence motion had been discussed, and defeated, the Bill went into Committee of Supply. Mr. McCombs raised the question of the electrification of the Lyttelton railway tunnel, contending that in the matter of railway improvements Canterbury had been most unfairly treated. Auckland, on the other hand, had received most favoured consideration. He did not object to what was being done in Auckland, but he did object to Canterbury being utterly neglected. Messrs Isitt, Buddo and Forbes stressed the disabilities under which they contended Canterbury laboured in railway matters.

Replying, Air. Coates said the report of the recent Railway Commission would be placed in the hands of members at an early date, and he trusted members would study it. A new system of distributing trucks would soon be instituted. Under the new’ system one man would control the supply of trucks from a point yet to be fixed. Orders to this effect had just been issued. As to expenditure on railway system, he justified what had been done at Auckland, and, so far as Canterbury was concerned, said he was now waiting on a report on the electrification of the Canterbury system from Messrs Mertz and McLennan. ORAKEI SECTIONS.

Mr. Parry raised the question of tho manner in which the Government proposed to dispose of land in the Orakei reserve, near Auckland city. The Hon. McLeod said some of the published statements regarding this reserve were not true. What the Gov-; ernment desired was to place the laird; on the market in sueh a way that the State would not have to hear any loss. His Department estimated that to avoid loss the land must bring in at the rate of £llOO per acre. The method of allocating sections had not yet been decided on, but the terms would bo as liberal as it was possible to make them. SHUNTERS’ AND SHIPPING RISKS Air. Fraser brought up the risks under which railway shunters performed their daily duties. The number of accidents to shunters recently had been alarming, and it had been represented to him that many of the railway yards were in a congested and badly lighted condition, and that men were asked to do most dangerous work tinder circumstances which wore intolerable. These matters should bo investigated. He further complained that in spite of the unanimous desire of the House, the Government had not insisted on all ships registered in New Zealand carrying wireless. If he misread the regulations ho would bo glad to be corrected, but he was convinced that if the present regulations had been in force years age. The position of the “Ripple,” which foundered off Cape Palliser, would not have been improved one bit. He wanted the Afinister to explain his difficulties, and to state to the House frankly what attitude shipping companies took up to-, wards this proposal to fit up small ships with wireless.

Sir John Luke deprecated attacks on shipping companies, because wireless could not prevent disasters on all occasions. He thought shunters had made out a good case in many respects, but the whole question was before the House and he had no doubt the Government would set the necessary inquiries afoot, and take such steps as would preserve the Jives and limbs of the men. He would like to see an open

inquiry, not merely a Departmental in quiry.

Mr. Howard complained that many of the conditions at the Addington railway workshops wore a disgrace to the Dominion. Men were being poisoned by machines worked by producer gas, while electrical machines were standing alongside them.

Messrs Mcllvride and Smith put in a plea for railway shunters. The Hon. Anderson said Mr. Fraser’s condemnation of wireless regulations was unjustified. The regulations were the most advanced in the world. It was impracticable to carry wireless operators on all small ships. They must be practical. They had the best possible advice to aid them, and regulations had been framed in accordance with that advice. He was assured that if these regulations had been in force the Ripple would have come under them. Shipping companies had not in any way influenced the action of the Government. In future deck officers of ships which come under the regulations would have to pass tho examinations necesary to enable them to W’ork wireless plants. The Government was open to receive any suggestions, but at present he believed the Government had done tho host thing possible. Mr. McCombs urged the Minister to instal on small vessels wireless instruments which would send out (automatic signals.

The Minister replied that they had inquired about these instruments, and found they would be of no use whatever.

Mr. Coates, reverting to the question of shunters, said he was determined to give railway employees the best possible conditions. It was generally agreed that shunters’ employment was dangerous, and that fact had not been overlooked. In view of recent accidents a special botird of experts had been set up to go into all questions affecting shunters. They knew that all railway yards in New Zealand were not satisfactory and they were going thoroughly into the questions of layout, formation, lighting, points, etc., ■which would make yards right up-to-date. They were by no means satisfied with the position as they found it, and he was determined to improve it, though it would take some time land a lot of money to do it. He admitted that railway shops in New Zealand were not up-to-date. The country was losing about £200,000 annually on them. His desire whs to re-mo**'! them a-nd give the men the most modern appliances to work with.

The Bill was then put through the committee stage and read a third time and passed. The total amount authorised by the YBill is £1,483,750 and at 11.12 p.m. the House rose till 7.30 to-morrow evening, when the Address-in-Rcplay will be moved and seconded.