REPORT OF THE BOARD

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 84, 6 October 1931, Page 8

REPORT OF THE BOARD

LINES UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO-MORROWS DEBATE Next to the financial proposals of the Government, one of the most interesting features of the work immediately ahead of Parliament is consideration of the report of the Government Railways Board on lines under construction. A motion to adopt the recommendations of the board will bo submitted to the House of Representatives to-morrow, and it is certain that a long and possibly an acrimonious debate will follow. The proposals of tho Railways Board will be strenuously opposed by a largo section of tho House, especially as tho Prime Minister his indicated that tho voting will not be on strictly party lines. The Labour Party generally is known to be opposed to the board's recommendations, and it is expected that if the matter is forced to a division the Opposition will have tho support of about ten members of tho other parties in the House. The position is complicated by the fact that the motion to bo submitted to the House from the Government benches will be of a comprehensive nature, covering all the lines dealt with in the report. Members desiring to test the feeling of the House on any particular line will require to move an amendment to tho main question, and this procedure will no doubt have the effect of lengthening the debate. It is stated that the Prime Minister and the members of the Government are determined . that the board's recommendations shall be adopted in toto, and for that reason no concessions are likely to be granted. Under the terms of the Government Railways Amendment Act of the emergency session of this year, it is necessary that a motion approving of tho board's recommendations shall be adopted by the Legislative Council as well as the House. It has been arranged that the debate in the Council shall take place on Thursday afternoon, so that in the event of the discussion in tho Lower House being carried on until Thursday both Chambers will reach a decision almost simultaneously. It is not anticipated that any strenuous opposition to. the board's proposals will be voiced in the Council.