FREE RAILWAY TRAVEL FOR CHILDREN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 305, 18 September 1920, Page 8

FREE RAILWAY TRAVEL FOR CHILDREN

AGE TO BE RAISED FROM THREE TO FIVE

PROPOSAL TO CO FURTHER DEFEATED

A concession to children travelling on tho railways was promised by the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday. The question was raised by Mr. (i. Mitchell Ovellwgtoii South), who nioved that the railway vote should be reduced by as an indication that children should be carried free on tho railways up to seven years uf age instead "of three years. Mr. Mitchell added a suggestion that half fares 6hould bo allowed up to fourteen years of age. Tho Department would not lose money by the change, since at tho prosent most parents could not afford to travel on the railways with their children. Tho change would mean more holidays for mothers. Mr. J. P. Luko (Wellington North) objected to the proposal on the ground that it would involve the tramways in similar concession*.

Mr. Massey said that the concession proposed! would cost a year. He had been asked' to find money for superannuated railway servants, pensioners and others, and ho intended to do it. But ho could not find this extra money and at the same time give away revenue. Several other members supported the amendment. They argued that parents of young children were unable to leave their children at home, and were also unable to pay railway fares for tho children. They were denied tho pleasure*) of travel. The railway charges for children wero an added disability upon the parents. Dr. A, K. Newman (Wellington Bast) suggested asi a compromise that children could be carried free up to five years. Why not charge more for racehorses, fencing wire, lime and show stock and less for children? lime was carried free for the farmers up to 100 miles. Persons with small means and Jorge families were penalised at every point. If the Department could afford to make concessions at many points to farmers it could do something for the flhildren:

Mr. Massey replied that free carriage of lime had been intended to increase the production of the and it had done a very great deal of good. Dr. Newman: Children will increase H>o production of the country. Mr. Massey told tho Houso that ho was informed by the General Manager of Bailways that the lifting of the freo age to five years, would cost very much less than the original proposal. He would l>* prepared to take tho smaller concession itato favourable consideration. But members must understand that; every reduction made in tho revenue of the Government meant that less money would be available for other purposes. He had directed- tho Treasury to set nsido .5100,000 for additions to superannuation payments. He was being asked to find money for increased pensions and many other purposes. If he found it possible to raise the free ago to five years he would do so. It was time, as some members had pointed out that tho railway revenue was increasing. But tho railway expenditure was increasing faster than tho revenue. Did members realise what trouble the Eailway Department was having in maintaining a supply of coal? It was paying on tho average about «S6 per ton for coal.* Tho Department had been forced to get coal from America. A big ship was on, its way to Now Zealand now with about 8000 tons of coal for the Department, and the cost wou-id he considerably over £6 per ton. Tho Department had paid as much as £7 p»r ton.

Mr. L. M. Isitt (Christchurch North) and Mr. J. Crnigie (Timaru) pressed tho claims of the mothers, who had to stay at homo if the present railway fares were charged for young children. Mr. Isitt remarked that the plea was being made in part on 'behalf of the children of the > men who were responsible for the 6horta™ of coal, bul the lamontnble attitude of these men ought not to prejudice a just cause. The Railway Department was maldng very many concessions to the farmers, who had become tho most pros-; porous section of tb>a community. "There are so many people travelling now that yott cannot 1 get a sent on the trains," complained Mr. Ly6nar (Gis-v borne), who thought that the time was" not opportune for <oncessions. Ho sugitf>sM Mia* tbe Labour members, instead of demanding free railway travel for children, should see that the Railway, Department got adequate supplies of coal at a reasonable price. Mr. Fraser: And wool. Mr. I.vsnar: That is another question. If people arc fools enough to pay tho prices asked for manufactured woollens, thnt is their own' trouble. ''There are yonng. r:en and women in the back country vho have never seen a railway," said Mr. Horn (Wakatipu). "How is the back country mother to Wkb her children away from her home when travelling is so costly?" TTe mentioned cases where the cost of taking a country child «n a trip to the city would be over £2. After further debate, the Tlouso divided, and the motion was lost by 32 votes to 28. ( half-farejmT railways SUGGESTION THAT ACT-LIMIT SHOULD BE RAISED. =} That the age up to which children might travel for half-fare on the railways should he raised from twelve to fourteen years was a suggestion made to the Prime Minister by Mr. 6. Mitchell in the House last night. Mr. Massey replied that tlio question was one he woo'ld bo very pleased to consider; l>nt he wished to remind members that he could not make money. Ho -was afraid th»t if all the suggestions submited to him were adopted he would have to ask for greatly increased taxation before the end of tho session. NOTJEDUCED The Leader cf the Labour Party, who does not appear to be troubled by ft sense of humour, moved in tho House of Representatives last night that the railway vote of 84,612.500 should lis reduced by .£1 ns "an indication of the desire of the House that trains should be run daily from Beefton to Innngahua Junction." Ho divided the House on this proposal, and was defeated by 38 voles to 10. Three Liberals, Messrs. Rcddon, Sidey, and Witty, voted with tho Labour members. LICENSING "AMENDMENT BILT Tho Legislative Council yesterday considered the amendments made by the Lower House in tho Licensing Amendment Bill, which was brought down to remedy certain obvious defects in tho existing 1 law. Sir Francis Bell moved that the Council agree b>- tlio amendment. He oxpliined that the clause'repealing section 1W of the Licensing Act had been struck out by the House. Section 144 provides that upon a sudden increase of population in a particular part of a licensed district tho residents may requisition for the issue of n publican's license er licenses. It had boon found, said Sir Francis Bell, that tho repeal of section 144 wn.i not cogunto to the purposo of IV Bill. The motion was carried. •