ROADS AND RAILWAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 303, 19 December 1912, Page 5

ROADS AND RAILWAYS.

HAWKE'S BAY'S NEEDS. (By Telegraph.-Press Association,) HASTINGS, this day. Mr Fraser (Minister for Pubric Works) spent two hours last evening with members of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, informally discussing matters of interest to Hawke's Bay. He emphasised his policy of devoting to roadmaking the restricted funds available. His Department regretted having to discontinue for a time many railways commenced by their predecessors, but railways were useless unless fed by roads, and one railwas completed, even if |only paying 1 per cent, was better than twenty uncompleted lines. He looked upon the East Coast line as one of national importance, and promised that money would be placed on the Estimates next session, and the work proceeded with. He deprecated wasteful expenditure, and assured the Chamber that he would not sanction expenditure for expenditure's | sake. He was having full inquiries made into the working and advantages of light railways in other countries, and if they were found satisfactory he hoped Parliament next session would sanction the eixtension of the system in New Zealand. The Minister, accompanied by Mr. Holmes (chief engineer), left for Wellington this morning. On Tuesday he proceeds to Auckland