A COURAGEOUS ACTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 90, 17 April 1929, Page 6

A COURAGEOUS ACTION.

The decision of the Government to stop tho railway deviation work at Palmcrston North is an act of courage rare in our politics. The work has gone on tor some years, and it has cost more than £200,000. Because tho Government has come to the conclusion that it would be uneconomical to finish it, the work is to be stopped. The total cost of completion is estimated at £750,000. The Government thinks it is better to lose the £200,000 — though it is stated that some of the works may be usable in the future —rather than spend another half a million. There are several points in this affair that invest it with quite exceptional interest. The Prime Minister states that it is not expected that the completed work would produce any additional revenue; on the contrary, the cost of working the new station and yard would be greater. When the deviation was proposed it whs expected that traffic would double in twelve years, but traffic has actually decreased. But Sir Joseph Ward adduces evidence that suggests that even if traffic had not decreased, the deviation might have turned out to be doubtful policy. It is important to note that the Government arrived at this decision after very careful consideration, and that Sir Joseph Ward cites the opinion of officers of the Department. But while the public will approve the Government's action, it will be disturbed by the statement about decline of traffic, and it will ask again whether the Government is making similar careful inquiries about the need for the new railway works on its programme. Sir Joseph Ward is moving men from the Palmerston deviation to the Gisborne-Wairoa railway works. Has he obtained from his permanent officials their views on the economics of this line?