RAILWAYS BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 129, 24 October 1914, Page 4

RAILWAYS BILL.

EAiROOIJIALISJI DEPLORED,

OPPOSITION COMPLAINS OF "JDEBAUOHHUY."

By Telegraph —Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Nijfht. la the House of lteprtseniatives tonight the Hon. Herries amoved Olio second reading of the Hail-ways improvement Authorisation Bill, a measure ' based on JVlr. Hiloy's report. The -Mia- , ister said that Mr'.Hiley had acquired a : remarkable knowledge of 'the Dominion'? railway -requirements, and his report was an exceedingly valuable one, unliiiiuenced as it wa* by the opinions or wishes of the Government. He sorry to see tho parochial spirit 'that wa*'. introduced into tlliis question, 'because Mr. Hilcy was not influenced by political or local interests. Auckland was' getting; the lion's'share, only because it | needed it most. It had been said the i Bill was a ''town Bill," and that the country was being neglected, but the fact was that they must have facilities j'for dealing witli tlie traffic at the ter- ! minal points. He woit'ld point out 'to country (members that their Tequirements would 'be provided out of additions to open linos. Though it was not proposed to borrow all the money this year, it- was necessary at once to adopt this comprehensive scheme. Sir Joseph- Ward said tlie right thing for the Government to do was to get a resolution on paper affirming the Gen«al Manager's report, and not commit ■ihe country to the enormous liability of which this Bill was a part. He wondered if the House understood what the country was being asked to face. Loans acknowledged for thia Tear totalled £12(245,00, and this in face of the fact that tho Government party (had gone through the country declaring that borrowing must cease. If they were hon- i tst they would turn the Government I out and put the country on right lines. I ■The Bill was simplv debauching the con-1 sli'tucncies- with loan monies. Whan concerned him most was the exceeding serious position in which this recklessness placed the finances of the country. Mr. Myers generally endorsed the -recommendation's of Mr. Hilcy's report. He -was a thorough believer in comprehensive schemes, and recognised the proposals in tho Bill as comprehensive. He had however, voted against the loan proposals as a protest against -what he regarded as a pure electioneering scheme. They had hoard a great deal about "comimiitmeißts," but what were they to say in the face of the fact that this nonborrowing Government had already committed' the country to £12,245,0*) this year ( Mr. Payne said our first; duty was to promote additions and improvements to open lines and help to get our settlers' produce to market. Mr. Wilkinson said he was returned to put a check upon a big borrowing policy. Since he came into the House lie had modified his views on many subjects, and- he now thought our railways must be put on a proper footing. Mr. H'ine said he was not in accord with, the borrowing proposals of the Government, and unless the loan was reduced, toy two millions he would vote, against the Bill. Mr. Russell said that under the Local Railways Bill ihe Government said to the settlers "you can shift for yourselves." But what would happen if the people of Wellington asiked for a new station? They were not told to rate themselves for it. Mr. Massey contended that the diffii culty with the railways was that- the busings was growing faster than, the conveniences available, and one of the greatest necessities was suitable terminal points. It was not the station buildings that cost tho money; it was the rearrangements of station yards. Discussing the importation of engines, ihe Premier declared that if the workshops had been up to date, we would not he short of engines now. If ever there was a time when, borrowing was justified it was now, when we had to keep our people employed. Mr. Wilford denounced tho Bill as a cleverly worked scheme. It was simply fooling the people, hut the Government could not fool them all the time. Other members having spoken, the Minister rose to rcplv at 12.30. He said that whatever programme- Mr. Myers laid down, more engines had been 'mnjt .n the Dominion during the past two years than during the regime of the continuous ministry. The reading was then carried by 30 The' Bill wn.i then rut through the roiittee without amendment, and read n third 'lime without discussion.