THE MAIN LINE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 252, 5 August 1933, Page 2

THE MAIN LINE

NO HOPE OF COMPLETION. THE MARLBOROUGH SECTION, (Special to the " Guardian.") SEDDQN, August 4. No hope of the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway was held out by the- Minister of Public Works (the Hon. J. Bitchener) at Ward to-day, when he was urged by a large deputation of Fiaxbourne settlers to put the work in hand as an unemployment relief job. The Minister inspected the whole of the completed section yesterday afternoon and this morning, leaying Kaikoura in heavy rain at dawn. The president of the Fiaxbourne Settlers' Association (Mr H. J. Thomson) said the association considered the time was ripe for going on with the South Island Main 1 Trunk, using unemployed labour. An assurance had been given to a previous deputation that the material would not be shifted, but a large amount had already been sent away. It was their honest belief that the line was a national necessity and it was the only thing that would put Marlborough on the map, because road transport could not handle their produce. Mr Alex. Thompson said that through the lack of railway facilities for handling stock Marlborough sheep farmers received ■ about 3s per head below the ruling Canterbury prices. He reiterated previous arguments and said that they believed that the railway was a necessity as part of the national system. The association's suggestion was that unemployed labour could be used to prepare the earthworks. Even if fhe railway wore not completed the foundations would come in useful- for road construction.

Mr E. F. Heaiy, M.P., strongly supported the proposal, saying that it was no use referring the matter to the Railway Board, for there was no Railway Board—there was only one man in control and he ruled the roost. Mr Healy assured the Minister that the completion of the line would De of national value, citing the success of American developmental lines. He also pointed out that full facilities al-. ready existed for accommodating from 2000 to 3000 men.

Mr W. S. Worah, president of the Fiaxbourne A. and P. Association, declared that the railway would eventually be completed. Railway working costs would have to be reduced and when that was done the railways would pay handsomely. Ward settlers had still a little of the confidence which inspired the pioneer settlers and only asked for justice. Replying, the Minister said that he realised the difficulties the farmers of the district were living under. He could not give any great ray of hope regarding the railway. He had sympathy with the settlers, for the first railway to be stopped was in his own electorate. The present policy of the Government and fhe Pailway Board was not to go on with uncompleted lines, but what the future policy would be he could not say. There was no money allocated at present for railway construction, and as far as public works were concerned the South Island Main Trunk was completely out of the picture. Most of the unemployed were now being used on useful works in improving country roads.