A FREE VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 81, 2 October 1931, Page 8

A FREE VOTE

EAILWAY BUILDING

THE BOARD'S REPORT

DEBATE ON WEDNESDAY

The important debate on the question as to whether the recommendations of the Bailways Board on lines under construction shall be adopted will take place in the House of Representatives next -Wednesday. According to the legislation of the, March-April session of Parliament, the work cannot be stopped except by resolution of both Chambers of the Legislature. In its recommendations, the Railways Board reported adversely in respect to all lines under construction except the Stratford-Main Trunk Line, which was not covered by the report. When the House of Representatives met this morning, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland) asked the Prime Minister to inform the House if it,was proposed to present the Government's programme next Tuesday, and when it was proposed to take the discussion on the report of the Railways Board. V . The Prime Minister (the. Eight Hon. G..i W. Forbes) replied that the statement outlining the financial programme would be made next Tuesday by the Minister of Finance, .and in order to enable members to thoroughly acquaint themselves with the position, it was proposed to adjourn consideration of the programme until Thursday, ill the meantime taking other business. It was proposed to take the resolution dealing with railway construction on Wednesday. ' Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour^ Avon): "Will there be a free vote of the House on the matter of railway construction?" :

Mr. Forbes: "I think the hon. gentleman will agree that there have never been anything else but free votes."

Mr. Holland: "It will be on nonparty lines, .then?" ■ Mr. Forbes said that a vote would be taken, and he hoped members would deal with the question entirely from the standpoint of the interests of the country, and not from the standpoint of the interests of party or any electorate. '■■ / ' • . ' " : '

■Mr. Holland:1 "Will the promise be kept that the vote will be on non-party lines?"

"Undoubtedly," Mr. Forbes assured

"It won't be made a Government matter?" Mr. Holland still pursued.

Mr. Forbes said there would be no attempt to secure a decision except according to the free and unfettered belief of members. ■

Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East): "Will the whole of the board's recommendations be dealt with in one motion?"

Mr. Forbes: "Yes."

Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Independent, Gisborne),asked what was the position concerning a petition from the Gis-borne-Wairoa district, now before a Select Committee.

The Prime Minister replied that the expenditure of thousands of pounds a day on railway lines could not be prolonged because a petition was before a Committee. He did not think any Committee of the House would ask that expenditure should go on in that way because if was hearing evidence on;a petition. Members 6f the House had all the information in their possession concerning lines under construction, and he did not think there-was one of them who was not competent to give his voice without any further eyidence being heard. Anything that would delay consideration of the ques-' tion by the House would cost thousands of pounds, and that would be a scandal. The country expected Parliament to come to a decision as soon as possible. He felt sure the men bn the works wished to know whether the work was to continue; they did not wish to have the thing hanging over their.heads, not knowing whether work was to continue or not. The country could not ; afford to go on ' > spending money which could not be of any possible benefit.

In reply to Mr. Lysnar, Mr.-Speaker declared that there was nothing to prevent the House from dealing with the board's report, notwithstanding that a petition was still before a Committee.