GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 9 April 1936, Page 7

GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS

AMENDMENT BILL PASSED ( Per Press Association. ) WELLINGTON, April 8. JU the House of Represenlativ<*s thil afternoon, urgency was. accorded th* passing of the Government Railways Amendment Bill ami the. House commenced consideration of it iu committee. Opposition members provided the majority of the speakers, the Government’s action in abolishing the Railway Board and its decision to construct certain lines being criticised. Speakers again twitted the rank and file of the Government party with their silence, and a statement by Air. Forbes that his Government were quite prepared to reconsider the construction of the South Island Main Trunk lin< when finances were available, brought Mr. E. I’. Aleaehen (Labour, Wairau] to his feet. He said he could not al low such a remark to pass, as since the closing down of that line the last Government had removed large quan* titles of gear and material and sold them for a mere song. Mr. AV. .L Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo) suggested that instead of constructing expensive railway lines the Government should construct good concrete roads ami make use of modern means of travel. Hon. I). G. Sullivan said that full information would he presented Io the House in connection with any project promised to lie undertaken. Referring to the sotting up of the tribunal, Air. Sullivan said that some members appeared to be under a misapprehension as though the, railway organisations in the future were to be shut off from the Minister, and that anv difference of opinion that migiit arise in connection with wages and hours, etc., must, necessarily be dealt with only through the process of the tribunal. That was quite inaccurate. Exactly the same conditions would obtain in the future as in the past. When anv question arose the men would approach the ATinister and the depart merit, in the usual way and it was onlj at the point where it was found not just possible to arrive at a complete agreement on all points that power would be taken to set up a tribunal. The railwaymen were not be deprived of any right they had in the past. Jh( proposal had the approval of all th< railwaymen’s organisations as well ;u the, Government. The short title was passed without i division being called for. and the remaining clauses were passed after a short discussion. The Rill was then reported to the House without arm nl- - retd a third time, -md pa cs °3.