RAILWAY BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1584, 30 October 1912, Page 6

RAILWAY BILL.

MANAGEMENT AND WAGES,

AMENDMENTS DEFEATED.

The House of Representatives spent tho greater part of yesterday afternoon in discussing the report of the Otira Tunnel Contract Petition Committee. Mr. Leo (Chairman of the Committee), who had presented tho report, did not reply until after ,tho dinner adjournment. Tho report, with its accompanying recommendation to the Government to y release the contractors, invite fresh tenders, and pending a decision on these tenders, to carry on the work, was eventually referred to the Government for favourable consideration. , The Fisheries Amendment Bill was introduced 'by, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher end read a first time. At a quarter to eight tho amendments mado by the Legislative Council to the Public Servioe Bill • can}o up for consideration. An amendment by Mr. Ell that, ■ tho 'House disagree with certain of the amendments made by the Council was negatived by 37 votes to 21 and the Council amendments wero agreed.to on tho .voices. . ;;■•":■_•■ The' Kaiapoi Reserves Bill, and tho East Const Native Trust Lands Amendment Bill both of which had been read a second . time pro forma were committed after a brief discussion. The Government Railways Amendment Bill,which was at the same stage in its career, gave rise. to.a. long.discussion. It provides for the employment of a \general manager of railways to be appointed for ft term of five years at a salary of '£3000 s a year, and also for increases of salaries for employees in the Second Di-. vision and for some of those in the First Division. The proposal'of the Government to import a. general manager of railways'.-was strongly opposed ,by Sir Joseph Ward and as warmly defended, by the late Minister for Railways, Mr. A. M.'Myers.. .

Another turn was given to the discussion'when Mr. G. ;AV. Russell moved as an amendment tha't the House suggest - tbat tho Government should bring down i x amendments £o grant concessions to the First Division as from. April I, 1913, which were recommended by the Railways Committee last year.' This was negatived by 37 rotes to 30.' ..-''•

At 11.20 p.m. Mr. Buddo moved another amendment, that the House disagree with tho proposal to import a general' manager at a salary of .£3OOO a year. ".-.',

At 0.45 a.m. the amendment was negar lived by 38 votes to 25. The debate terminated at 1.85 a.m., and tie three Bills committed that night were put through Committee unomended in fifteen minutes. . The House rose at 1.50 a.m, .