PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY’S SITTING. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Eegislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. O. Samuel presented a petition from representatives of Freezing Companies and the Meat and Producers Exporters’ Association praying that they be heard in connection with the Meat* Export Control Bill.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop Empowering Bill was passed. The Urewera Lands and Government Railways Amendment Bills were read a first time. '

The Native Land Amendment and Discharged Soldiers* Settlement Amendment Bills were read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Native Affairs and Lands Committees respectively. The Dentists Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. On the motion of Sir Francis Bell new clauses were added to provide that returned soldiers, whose prior service was interrupted by war service, might sit for examination after satisfying the Direcof Health fnat they had had two years’ continuous practice prior to the passing of the Act, or two years continuous practice prior to the war and one year’s continuous practice prior to the passing of the Act. The Bill was passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MORNING! SITTING. IN COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. DISCUSSION ON RAILWAY ESTIMATES. Wellington, Feb. 3. The House met at 11 o’clock. Replying to Mr. Malcolm (Chitha), Mr. Massey said that the rebate or. land tax had been such an undoubted success in bringing in revenue that he was disposed to think that city councils would find the practice equally advantageous, but the necessary legislation could not be passed this season.

The House then went into Committee of Supply to consider the Railway Estimates, the total vote being £649,001).

Mr. Reed (Bay of Islands) complained that the head office would not answer correspondence and when replies were sent they always dodged the issue. As a remedy he suggested the superannuation of all officers who had 40 years’ service.

Mr. Sidey (Dunedin South) wanted to know why it was necessary to make such large importations of rolling stock. He considered that much of it could be built in the Dominion.

Mr. Forbes (Hurunui) contended that more inconvenience than economy resulted from the railway cut in the South Island. The cut was made uniform, irrespective of the local conditions, and be urged that the general manager should visit the South Island and study local conditions before the next cut was made.

Mr. Field (Otaki) urged that an official should be appointed whose duty it would be to discover and encourage revenue producing business. A commercial agent was a necessary addition to the railway staff. Some policy should also be devised to recover railways much of the traffic now being carried by motor. 'Mr. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) moved as an amendment that the railway vote be reduced by £lO as an indication that the deviation at Palmerston North be not proceeded with pending further investigation. He claimed that his amendment would release much money to meet local requirements which were being asked for all over the Dominion.

The amendment was defeated by 42 votes to 19.

The Minister, in reply, said the neglect to answer correspondence in the case referred to by Mr. Reed, was accidental. The department ordered 2500 trucks and 45 engines at a time when the workshops were unable to undertake building owing! to a shortage of material and men during the war. As soon as these engines arrived the workshops would be able to keep pace with the requirements. The question of a commercial agent was being considered but motor competition with the railways was not as serious as many supposed. The general manager would endeavor to visit the South Island this autumn. Messrs. Witty, Bartram and Sir George Hunter detailed a series of disabilities under which settlers were suffering owing to the peculiarities of railway management. Sir John Luke (Wellington North) thought. everything considered, our railways were not doing so badly when compared with those of other countries. The House resumed at 2.30. • AFTERNOON SITTING. Discussion on the railway estimates was continued. Messrs. J. Horn, J. Uraigie and J- Edie ventilated local grievances. Mr. J. M. Dickson (Chalmers) criticised, the railway “cut.’ which he said, had resulted in motors flourishing greatly. Mr. R. W. Smith pleaded with the Minister to take a share in the management of the railways as he represented the people in this matter and the railways were made for the people, not the people for the railways, as the management seemed to think. The Minister, in the course ot his reply to the various local wants mentioned by members, said the duplication of the Lyttelton tunnel was andoubtedly one of the most urgent works required, but in the present state of the finances that work was out of the questl<Mr. J. McCombs: But electrification would not cost much. Mr. Guthrie: that question nothing has been decided. Mr. McCombs: But the Premier promised it when he was Minister of Railways. , . . - Mr. Guthrie: That may be, but tor the present it is in abeyance. Mr. H. M. Campbell complained ot the incivility of railway servants to the public. Much of the treatment that the public received was n °‘ encourage the people in the use of radways.

Mr. McCombs expressed dissatisfaction with the Minister’s answer on the subject of the duplication and electrification of the Lyttelton tunnel. He claimed that if the tunnel could not be duplicated, the line might at least be electrified. Even Mr. Parry ha'd estimated this could be done for £134,000, but since then circumstances had considerably changed. For instance, Mr. Parry contemplated spending £o*o,ooo on a power house which was no longer necessary because power could be drawn from Lake Coleridge; therefore, practically £55,000 could be saved on that item. Then five locomotives could be released out of Mr Parry’s specification, as well as sixteen carriages, which meant that some £04,000 could be saved on Mr. Parry's original estimates. At the same time the saving on the running cost would be enormous—sufficient at least to pay from twelve to fifteen per cent, on the cost of the alteration. The saving on the cost of coal alone would he from £14,000 to £15,000, to say nothing of the increased comfort of those who use the line. He was not advocating the electrification of the line as an alternative to duplication, but there was no doubt electrification would enormously increase the efficiency of the single line. He urged that the Minister shquld obtain a report -from some recognised experts on the subject. The Minister, in reply, reiterated that the duplication of the tunnel was considered a work of the first importance. Electrification was not so considered, but the matter would be reconsidered, and before anything was done, a report would be obtained from the best railway and electrical experts. Replying to Mr. T. M. Wilford, Mr. Guthrie said he could not make a statement at present on the subject of the projected cut between Christchurch and Invercargill. The department was having considerable difficulty in making satisfactory arrangements, and he thought it unwise to single out one section of the line and discuss it apart from the general scheme. The cut would come into force on the thirteenth, and he would make a statement then. Mr. H. E. Holland referred to imported coal. He asked the Minister to state what this coal had cost the counThe Minister replied that this information, would be given in a return which would W furnished to the Ho ise. AfUer further discussion, mainly on local topics, the estimates were passed.

WASHING-UP BILL. At 5.15 the House resumed, when Mr. Guthrie moved the second reading of the. Washing-Up Bill, and the House went into committee to consider it. At 5.20 the House adjourned until 7.30. EVENING SITTING. A PRINCIPLE AT STAKE. On resuming at 7.30 p.m. the committee proceeded with the consideration of the Washing-Up Bill. . . On clause 68 J modifying the provisions of the Christchurch District Drainage Acts as to polls upon loan proposals, and extending the franchise to the electors instead of restricting it to ratepayers), Mr. A. D. McLeod and Sir John Luke objected that a great principle was being attacked. Mr. L. M. Isitt said the clause was necessary to enable drainage to be installed, and so safeguard the health of the city and community. The Minister (Hon. D. H. Guthrie) said that all the Christchurch members were satisfied the clause was a proper one for inclusion, and he, on being assured it was necessary in the interests of the health cf the people, had agreed to its inclusion in the Bill.

Hon. W. Nosworthy said representations had been made to him from the people in Christchurch that the clause was undesirable. Mr. G. Witty pointed out that clause was simply intended to correct an error in earlier legislation. An objection was raised by a few hundred people, and he asked: Were vested interests to be considered before those of thirty or forty thousand people whose health, possibly their lives, depended upon the ability to secure efficient drainage? The Prime Minister said he did not know how the clause came into the Bill, but he was satisfied it should not be there. He suggested that the clause stand over so that the subject could be dealt with in another manner.

Mr. J. McCombs pointed out that the clause was simply giving effect to the intentions of the legislation of 1920. The matter was one affecting the community’s health, and it was only right that the whole should have a voice m deciding on measures for the protection of health. After some further discussion a point of order was raised that the clause was, in effect, a local Bill, and the chairman ruled it out, the Prime Minister saying the Government would give facilities for the passage of a local Bill to deal with the subject covered by the clause.

LOAN AUTHORISATIONS. On clause 82 (empowering the Takapun .a Borough Council to borrow £4lOO for drainage and other purposes), and clause 83 (empowering the Auckland City Council to borrow £7OOO for the improvement of abattoirs), the point was again raised that these were equivalent, to local Bills. It was explained that the abattoirs enlargement and improvements were urgently necessary, as the result of requirements insisted upon by the health authorities. The clauses were held over for reference to the Standing Orders Committee. After further discussion, opposition to clauses 82 and 83 was withdrawn, and the clauses were passed. Several other clauses empowering local bodies to raise money for various purposes were also referred to the Standing Committee, and progress was reported. LAND LAWS AMENDMENT. The Land Laws Amendment Bill was committed. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) expressed a doubt whether the moneys received from endowment lands were fully secured. He also feared that the proposed repeals of earlier legislation covering the sales of surrendered lands cut out the safeguards furnished by the existing requirement that the sales should be conducted by public auction.

The Minister undertook that if any danger existed in regard to either of these points provision would be made to eliminate it.

On clause 12, providing for the acquisition of the fee simple of pastoral lands, Mr. G. W. Forbes said he thought, stringent conditions should be imposed on purchasers, so that the land would not be allowed to deteriorate.

On a division clause twelve was retained by 41 votes to 22.

Clause thirteen (special provisions regarding the acquisition of the freehold of National Endowment lands) was challenged, but retained by 42 votes to 21. Mr. McCombs said he wished to withdraw his objection to several clauses in the Washing-Up Bill, m it wm imposaibh

to consider them in the form of local Bills in the time left this season.

This was agreed to, and the Bill, as well as the Land Laws Amendment Bill, was put. through the final stages and passed. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Dentists Bill were agreed to. DIVORCE. The Hon. E. P. Lee moved the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill. He did not propose to make legislation retrospec--11 ve. Mr. T. M. Wilford said that from his experience he did not think the Bill as good as the present law. The Bill, at least, should not apply in cases iu which a citation had been served on the- other party. Judges had a discretion under the present law, and that he considered sufficient. The Minister replied, pointing out that if the House made amendments in the Bill which were not acceptable to the Legislative Council, then there was a danger of the Bill being lost. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. Tha House rose at 18,40 aua