IMPREST SUPPLY BILL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18421, 30 June 1925, Page 9

IMPREST SUPPLY BILL.

LAST, NIGHT'S DEBATE IN

HOUSE.

(ADKIDGI'D psess association bepobt.)

WELLINGTON", Juno 29

Shortly after tlio House of Representatives met jo-night the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 1) was introduced by Governor-General's Message. Mr Parry raised the question of the manner in which i7ie Government proposed to dispose of the lajid in! the Orakei reserve near Auckland City. He contended that if the published statement of the Government intentions was correct, then poor people who needed sections for housing purposes would not be able to get them. The Hon. A. D. McLeod said that some of the published statements regarding this reserve were not true. hat the Government desired was to place the land on the market in such a way that the State would not have to bear any loss. His Department estimated that to avoid a loss it must bring in at the rate of £llOO an acre. The method of allocating the sections had not yet been decided on, but the terms would bo as liberal as it was possible to make them. Mr Fraser brought up the risks under which railway shunters performed their daily duties. The number ol accidents to shunters recently had been alarming, and it had been represented to him that many of the railway yards were in a congested, badly lighted condition, and the men .were asked to do most dangerous work under circumstances which were intolerable. These matters should be 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 had misread the regulations he would be glad to be corrected, but he was convinced that if the present regulations had been in force years ago, the nosition of the Ripple, which foundered off Cane P liser. would not have been improved one bit. He wanted tne Minister to explain his difficulties and to state to the House frankly what attitude the shipping companies took up towards this proposal to fit up small ships with wireless. Sir John Luke deprecated the attacks on the shipping companies, l>ecause wireless could not prevent disasters on all occasions. He thought shunters had made out a good case in manv respects, but the whole question was before the House, and he had no doubt the Government would set the necessary enquiries on foot and take such steps as would preserve the lives and limbs of; the men. He would like to see an open, not merely a departmental enquiry. ~.,., • ;„ Mr Mcllvride and Mr Smith put in a pica for railway shunter--, but thelatter condemned a proposal to furnun shunters with gum boots in wet weather These would only hamper the shunters. "What was required was more efficient drainage of railway yS The Hon. J. G. Anderson said Mr Fraser's condemnation of the wireless regulations was unjustified. The regulations were the most advanced in the world. It was impracticable to carry wireless operators in all tmall ships, and they must be practical. They had the best possible ad<viee to aid them, and the regulations had been framed in accordance with that advice. .He was assured that if these regulations had been in force the Ripple would havo come under them. The shipping companies had not in any way influenced the action of the Government. In future the deck officers of ships which como under the regulations would have to prss the examinations necessary to enable them to work wireless plants. The Government was open to receive anv suggestions, but at present he believed the Government had done the best thing possible. ■Mr McCombs urged the Minster to install in small vessels wireless instruments which would send out automatic signals. The Minister replied that they had enquired about these instruments, ard found that they would be of no use whatever. Mr Coatcs, reverting to the question of shunters, said he was determined to give the railway employees the best possible conditions Jt was generally agreed that shunters' employment was dangerous, and that iaefa had not been overlooked. In view of the recent accidents a special board of experts had been set up to go into all questions affecting shunters. They know that all the railway yards in New Zealand were not satisfactory, and they were going thoroughly into all questions of lay out, formation, lighting; points, etc., which.would make the yards right up to date. They were by no means satisfied with the position, but it was the position as he found it end lie was determined to improve it though it would take some> time and a lot of money to do it. He admitted that the. railway workshops in New Zealand were not up to date. They were losing about £200,000 annually on them. His desire was to remodel them and give the men the most modern r.ooliances to work with. The Bill was then put through the Committee stage and read a third time and passed. Tho total amount authorised by the Bill is £2,483,750.

At 11.12 p.m. the House rose till 7.30 p.m. to-morrow, when the Address-in-Reply debate will be opened.