CONSTRUCTION STOPPED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 40, 9 October 1931, Page 3

CONSTRUCTION STOPPED

("Post" Special Commissioner).

new railways board's recommendations adopted by house AFTER ALL-NIGHT DEBATE

WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Government enjoyed the eomfortable majority of 20 in the passage of the resolutions approving of Railways Board's recommendations for tke stoppage of construction on the Wharanui-Frainassus ( South ^ Island main trunk), Putorino-Wairoa (East Coast) , and Te Kuha-Inanga-hua (Inangahua-Westport) railway lines. The cracking of the Party whips was needed, however, to bring* about this result. Originally it was decided to make the resolutions a non-party question, but when heads were counted it was feared that the Government be embarrassed by this procedure as it was estimated at one stage that an adverse motion might be carried by two or three votes. Thus, the whips may be well satisfied with the result and it is lilcely that their persuasive rnethods will go a long way to explain the apparently inconsistent attitudes adopted by one or two members. Bitter disappointment at the decision of the House was expressed by Mr. E. F. Healy (United, Wairoa), the champion of the South Island main trunk cause, who complained that he had been badly let down by his Party.

Till Nearly Six O'Clock The debate was commenced at 2.45 p.m. yesterday afternoon and lasted until nearly 6 o'clock this morning. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, placed' before the House a resolution approving of the Board's recommendations and obtained urgency for its consideration. He emphasised the fact that the country's finances would not stand further expenditure on railway construction. Opponents of the resolution practically monopolised the discussion, which in the main was colourless and was sustained by arguments in favour of the completion of lines which had repeatealy been placed on record. Mr. Healy acknowledged the occasion as being the greatest day in his political life. The case for the Westport line, of course, was in the hands of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. H. E. Holland), while Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Independent-Reform, Gisborne), utilised every opportunity to convince the House that the East Coast line should be finished. Labour Opposed With the exception of Mr. W. Lee Martin, the Labour Party solidly approved the Board's recommendations and an early attempt to defeat the resolution was disclosed in an amendment by Mr. W. J. Jordon (Labour, Manaulcau), that the resolution be referred to the Railways Committee of the House for investigation with the object of an inspection being made in company with members of both Houses of the localities affected. Discussion of this proposal was maintained until 2.30 a.m. when the amendment was rejeeted by 43 votes to 22. The Prime Minister briefly replied to the debate at 3.10 a.m. and the House went into committee at 3.30 a.m. Divisions were - taken on propositions to exclude each of the lines from the scope of the resolution, but in each case the amendments were defeated and the resolution approving the Board's recommendations was adopted by 41 votes to 21 votes.