RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 815, 8 November 1929, Page 11

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

MR. COATES PRESSES FOR INFORMATION PROMISED NEXT SESSION THE SUE'S Parliamentary Reporter PARLIAMENT BLDGS.. Thurs. Still hammering away at the point of investigation of all lines under construction by the Government, or projected, the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, surprised the House this evening by moving an amendment to the passing of the salaries item in the Public Works portion of the Supplementary Estimates. He did not divide the House on the question, however, as full information on lines, before next session, was promised, on behalf of the Government, by the Acting-Leader of the House, the Hon. G. W. Forbes. In moving the amendment, Mr. Coates said that his reason for doing so was that every motion moved so far by the Opposition, from reasonable and cautious interests, was surrounded by difficulties. He would move a reduction of £lO in the salaries item as an indication that the Government should reveal to the country the prospects of the lines under construction and projected. Mr. Forbes: Why not the next item? Mr. Coates, amid smiles: No, this vote. The next one is the PaeroaPokeno vote.

As the honourable gentleman realises, he went on to say, expenditure of public money was a serious matter. He was not overstating the case in saying that the cost would be over the estimates.

Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) thought an understanding could be arrived at on the question. All information on the lines was surely available. If it were not the country was surely entitled to it. He took it that the Government would be willing to give the fullest information possible. There was no need to vote for a reduction, and he took it that the Minister in charge would be willing to investigate the points raised by Mr. Coates.

The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, suggested that the whole position could be met by the Government making available all information, by or before next session. Almost all the lines under construction had been authorised by Mr. Coates, and there need be no objection to giving information. Mr. Forbes said that there was no desire by the Government that information be kept from the House or the country. He recognised that the country should know of the prospects of lines under construction and contemplated, and he would see to it that the fullest information was given. The amendment was lost on the voices.