RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 33, 8 February 1929, Page 6

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Generally -peaking, public opinion in this country ha-, endorsed the decision of the Prime Minister to carry out railway construction energetically and to give the main lines a chance of paying their w Slv speedily by completing them with the least possible delay. At the same time, it U well known that the actual expenditure in some cases will be extremely heavy, and that the slow growth of our population means the deferment of profit to a still distant future. Moreover, the Minister of Railways and his colleagues must take into account the intense competition to which railways everywhere are now subjected by the rapid growth of motor carriage of all descriptions. All these points are emphasised in a statement just issued by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Federation, which in a perfectly amicable spirit suggests to Sir Joseph Ward the need for great care and caution in regard to his railway construction programme. Xo doubt the Prime Minister fully realises the necessity for thorough investigation and a careful comparison of the conflicting claims of all the lines still under construction, and we may fairly assume that he will act accordingly. Conditions have, changed in a great variety of ways since the main lines were started, and the information available in ' regard to cost of construction, engineering j difficulties and financial prospects needs to be i brought up to date, not only in the interests! of the Railway Department and the Treasury,, but to satisfy public opinion as well. '