PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3972, 18 July 1929, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

QUESTIONS SUBAHTTED BY AIR. LINKLATER. Air. J. Linklater has, in the Bouse, asked the Alinister of Public Works, whether he will this session amend the Alain Highways Act in order tp give relief to small boroughs of under six thousand inhabitants which have put down their main highways in permanent m a f erial ? Under the present Act nineteen boroughs with a population of under six thousand inhabitants which have put down perlnianent roads receive no assistance whatever from the petrol and motor taxation because the subsidy’ is based on construction and maintenance. The boroughs quoted are the only local authorities under the Alain Highways Act that derive no benefit from the inotor-taxes, . although they have carried out in a successful imlanner all their obligations. Air. Linklater has also asked the Minister of Railways whether he will make immediate inquiry into the cause of the constant late running of the express trains between. Auckland and Wellington? 'During the last few weeks late trains have been the rule rather than the exception. This state of affairs is causing considerable loss to the railways, because the public are 'travelling by motor in increasing numbers by reason of the fact that trains cannot now be depended upon to run to time-tabl'e schedule. The white heron which found sanctuary about three years, ago in the lagoon at the rear of the Greymoufh hospital and which disappeared about a. yealr ago, has returned to its old haunt, and may he seen of a morning feeding near the hospital. [Somje years ago one of these rare and beautiful birds (kotuiku) visited Foxton and took up it® temporary' abode in the trees on the bank of the Manawatu River at the rear of the Presbyterian manse. After staying a few days it took its departure and has not since returned.]