IMPREST SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 8

IMPREST SUPPLY

DEBATE OH RAILWAY

SERVICES

. An Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. Dr. THACKER (Christchurch East) said that ho must raise the question of reduced railway services. Tho matter was too urgent to permit of delaj-. Tho National Efficiency Board had gone to Christchurcli and decided that the efficient conduct of tho country's business demanded the running of a night train between Lyttelton and Chrislchurch. But the Railway Department had refused to provide, tho train. Ho asked tho Primo Minister to givo impvdiato attention to tho matter. Tho isolation of Chrietchurcli from its port after 6 o'clock at night was ab.surd and intolerable.

Mr. POOLB (Auckland West) urged Auckland's claim for tho reinstatement of tho night services on the suburban railways. Tho stoppage of tho trains had produced an enormous amount of social and commercial inconvenience. Tho suburban lines wero tho "jugular veins" of tho city.

Mr. ISITT (Ciiristchurch North)'said be would bo content to postpone discussion of the grievance if the Primo Minister would undertake to hear tho Canterbury members and Canterbury commercial mon at an early date.

Mr. BUBDO (Kaiapoi) said the stoppage of the suburban railway services was an injustice that could not be disregarded. Canterbury members would not bo silent on' the point. Mr. SIDKY (Dunedin South) said that Duncdin's f(ri evnnco was every bit as strong as that of Christchureb. There was intense feeling in Dunedin on tlio subject. Peoplo woro being forced out of the suburbs into tho city. Mr. WAIJCER (Dunedin North) also voiced Dunedin'fs complaint.

Mr. PARE, (Eden) said that extreme dissatisfaction existed in every part of tho country affected by the reductions. The stoppage of suburban services produced an amount of loss and troublo out of all proportion to tho advantago gained. Four thousand of his constituents were cut off from the city at night. Ho was sure that by working tho existing staffs overtime or by employing some retired railwaymen who were willing to servo, it would 'iM possible to pontanuo

the. services without withholding men from the forces.

Sill JOSEPH WAltp asked n'.Hi.bers to realise that- a question of this kind cuuld not bu discussed proiiUibly on an Imprest Supply Uill. The business before tlio House had no counection witii matters of policy. The Minister of Kailways would be ready lo givo full information, lie was trying u> do tlte right thing under very difficult conditions. Dr. 'i'haekor: No difficulties at all.

H\r Jorsejiu Ward: Wu havo just come from a country that, prior to tho war, was noted all over tlio world for its magnificent railway arrangements. Today every effort 'is boing mado in tho United Kingdom to stop peoplo travelling by raising lares, running trains past important station, and -taking oft trains. Those conditions you are discussing siro much more severe in other countries than in Now Zealand. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui) said that the reduction in the strength of tlio railway stuff was duo more to resignations than to enlistments. Most of tlio resignations were caused by the unsatisfactory conditions of the vuilwuy service. Mr.'C. H. POOLK (Auckland West) said he wished to protest emphatically against the injustice that had been done to the workers and suburban dwellers in connection with tho reduced railway services. The Kailwuy measures had seriously inconvenienced many sections of tho community.

Returned Soldiers. Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchurch) South asked for increased attention to the needs of discharged soldiers in regard to pensions. Tho presout system was too severely centralised, and the work had becoino congested. SIB JAMES ALLEN: It is right up to date. There is no congestion. Mr. Ell added that tne form of application for war pensions was too inquisitorial. Ho urged also that the Government should take steps to give all sec tions of workers, through tho Arbitration Court, a war bonus. Mr. L. M. ISITT said ho could assure tho Minister o£ Defence, who nad d<;no an immense amount of work, that many real grievances existed in connection with defence administration. The pensions granted were absolutely inadequate, iio mentioned the case of a man who could do no work, Mid who was allowed a pension of 15s. a week. "I doubt very much whether theso lads should be discharged at all," said Mr. Isitfc. "They oufflit to remain a charge upon the btate until they aro fit to earn their own livings. An early opportunity should be given tor a full and free discussion of this wattei and other aspects of Defence udminis(Mataura) referred to the cases of reoruits who were sent out of camp on loave without pay to recover from illness. He said that these men ought not to bu thrown upon their own resources. Men wfio were brought into camp and were then found to l> imnt were entitled to more consideration tnaii they received. Thero was a great deal of angry feeling about many phases of Defence administration. The. blame did not rest with the Defence Minister so much as with his subordinates. Mr.WILPOBD said there was not a member of the House who had not soldiers'grievances in hand. He wanted to see a returned soldier placed on the \\ar Pensions Board. The present members were humane and , kind-hearted, but they were tied within the letter of the law. Cvil Servants could not help putting tho letter of the law before the spirit. Iho pensions law would havo to bo considered. The Second Division would soon be called up-there was no doubt at all that it would bo called up-and the recruits from tnat division would have to ho given treatment different from the men who had already gone. Dr THACKEB (Christchurch East) demanded improvements in connection with tho medical examination 01 recnuts. .Dr. Thacker referred also to the case o£_a soldier who had contracted leprosy 111 Samoa, and had beon quarantined an Somes Island. This man's pension had been cut down from SOs. to 10s. a week when he went on th» island. It did not Seem to occur to tho authorities 111. such cases that the men had dependants r.nd civil liabilities.

WELLINGTON RENTS. Mr. A. IV. HINDMARSH raised the question of high rents in Welliugtou. A Bill designed to check tho increase of rents had been passed, but amendments inado before it reached tho Statute Book had really destroyed its value. Its effect in some instances had been to increase rents. Tho excessive rents charged ill ■Wellington wero war profits of a flagrant kind, and tho Government should follow the example of tho authorities in tho United Kingdom by coming effectively to tho assistance of oppressed tenants. Tho routs paid by wives whose husbands were at tho front wero bcinjr raised. The evil would become more acute than ever when the Second Division was mobilised, and the Government should riot hesitate to deal with tlio landlords. It was shameful that soldiers' wives should have their rents increased.

Tho Imprest Supply Bill was put through nil its stages, and passed.