PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12392, 13 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

THE RAILWAYS

(Per Press Association.) -' • WELLINGTON, December 10 Ihe House this, afternoon went into Committee of Supply on the vote Working Railways £2,143,500. Mr Massey asked what would be done in regard to the .-report of the Commission on the Addihston Workshops. Mr Taylor asked wlfether the casual railway hands who complied with all necessary conditions Mould be included m the permanent staff. The Hon. Millar said there would be a necessary decrease in the permanent staff, and it would be an injustice to that staff to take on casual hands. Mr Batime moved a reduction of £1 m item £1250 for general manager, as an indication that an independent tribunal shoiild inquire into the hours of labour and rate of wages in the service. Mr Luke advocated the placing of railway servants under the Arbitration Act.

TJio Hon. Millar said the men had a chance to come under the Arbitration -Act. and ho was prepared to give it to them again on condition they were nut on a level with other men earning similar wages, and that the whole of the men came under the provisions of the Act. He admitted the Hon. Hall-Jones had promised to place casual hands on the permanent staff, but this was found impracticable", and his predecessor had instructed officials not to give effect to it. as it would upset the superannuation scheme. Effect had been! given to .several, recommendations of the Commissioners on tho Addington Workshops btit it would be too costly to electrify the cranes as suggested. ■Tho debate was" mterruptad by the dinner adjournment.

The debate on the railway vote on the Estimates was resumed in the evening. Replying to Mr Tavlor, the Hon. Millar said about 350 men vrere affected by the nonfulfilment of the Hon. HallJones' promise to place casuals who had been five years, in the service on the permanent staff, but 250 of them had now be.?n retrenched. As for bringing men under the scope of the Arbitration Act, the large majority vetoed it.

WELLINGTON December 11

After further discussion lasting till one o'clock, the motion was put and rejected by 40 votes to 20.

Mr Massev then moved that the vote be reduced by £1 as an indication that a day should be set amit'for the consideration of the Railway Statement. This was lost by 33 to 24."

After 2 o'clock, the Native Department voto of £20.179. and the- Justice Department vote of £353.576 were passed and the house rose at 3.50.