BRITISH TRANSPORT BILL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 7

BRITISH TRANSPORT BILL

SIRiERIC GEDDES'S POWERS CHAL-' ' LENGED. v.. London, April 7.. ■ Replying, in the House of Commons to an amendment to the Transport Bill, propcseil- by Colonel J. Gretton, that no undertaking should.be established by thoMinistry,until tho estimato for it is up-' proved,. Mr,-. Edward 'Shout said that the existing .circumstances made .reliable- es-> tiroates-impossiblc". lie hoped tho Hou6o would trust tho Treasury. Sir Edward Carson said the Bill established the most gigantic Department ever knowii,>-.and-would provo the-most expensive experiment in history. Sir Eric Geddes would have carte blancho to spend what ' he liked for. two. years in "gambling gone mad." No estimates were required) and there was no limit to the expenditure. The Minister was to have a charter for unqualified' extravagance.- Ho insisted upon tho freedom of tho Treasurer to exorcise co.itrol. The debate was ad-' journed— Aus.-N Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH FARMERS' PROFITS.. ■' ' ■ London, April 7. The..-Agricultural Wages Board reports that the pre-war profits.of farmers averaged 6s. an acre. Their profits reached 275. Bd.- an acre last year, but tho land has depreciated owing to the lessened use of fertilisers. Farm workers' -wages had.been coinpulsorily increased during the war to 335., which the board asserts is below the cost of maintaining'a family:l ■ 'The board is fixing the new rate at 395. Gd.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.