SOUTHERN TRUNK

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 263, 6 November 1929, Page 13

SOUTHERN TRUNK

COMPLETION POLICY. GOVERNMENT UPHELD. MR. COATES' AMENDMENT. FULL INQUIRY DEMANDED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "I think the bulk of the criticism of the Government's railway construction policy centres around the South Island Main Trunk," said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, when in the House last night he moved the second reading of the Railway Authorisation Bill, including provision for completing the whole of the remaining gap of 76 miles.. He estimated the cost of completing this railway at £2,415,000.

The Minister reminded the. House of the promise of the late Mr. Massey that the line would be completed in eight years, and his successor, Mr. Coates, had said it would be proceeded with when other more urgent lines were completed. The completion of the South Island Main Trunk would give, except tor the short sea journey, railway communication from Auckland to the Bluff. It was interesting to note that disconnected railway systems were expensive to run, and he was of the opinion that when sections were connected up they would not cost the country much more to run, as '.he staff was available, and the trains, instead of lying idle at the terminus, would run through. There were 300,000 acres of valuable Crown lands in the area to be served; and there was also much valuable private land in Marlborough. .Reported Promise Questioned. The Leader of the Opposition! the Rt Hon. J. G. Coates, took exception to the statement : of■'. the Minister that most of the criticism had centred around the South Island Main Trunk. The criticism had aimed at endeavouring to make tae Government realise that all projected lines should be examined. It had been said that he promised to complete this line, but this was on a par with other statements made by Ministers, which had turned out to be incorrect. "I deny that I sent a telegram," said Mr. Coates. "Nobody has > ever seen it. The member for the district at the time denied it and the present member denied it-in print."

Mr. E. F. Healy (Wairau): I have it. Mr. Coates went on to say he did not wish of Public Works to get the reputation for circulating rfeports without foundation.' • ;'. '■■••" Mr. Ransom: Are we to understand the Leader of the Opposition ever promised that the railway should proceed? • Mr~ Goatee did not reply, but continued to Urge-his point that the construction of all lines should be preceded by aninves'tigation of their cost, probable revenue and developmental, aspect. Possibly more' could be said for the South , Island Main Trunk than for some 'of. the '*■ btlsfer;:lines proposed, and; he : . did Jiot •.WlsK Ho stop "'■_ any of' the'authorisations, "Imt'heVas,emphatic that -the*: House -was entitled to the information he liad suggested , before work was commenced. . For? that reason, he moved the following amendment to the motion that the bill be read a second time:— "That while this House; does not desire tofobstnict the authorisations proposed in ! the;bill, it is of the'opinion that a fult, ; : inquiry should be immediately instituted by the Govarnriient as to the whole question of railway more' especially in view of the emphatic statement 'In the Budget that railway losses must rapidly increase unless some cd-ordination. is arranged between motor trapsport and railways." . "Would Stop All Work." "As the Leader of the Opposition has felt it Encumbent to move this lengthy amendment to: the second reading of this bill, I must explain that the only effect of its. being carried would be cessation of all work on lines under construction," said the Acting Leader of the House, the . Hon. ,G. W. Forbes., "If the amendment were carried it would be the. end' of authorisations in this,bill. It is all very wellfor him to eay he.has no desire to obstruct -these authorisations, but if his amendment, went through, those authorisations would not be given." , Mr.. Coates: Oh, that is not so. ,j Forbes maintained that was the position.. /: "This reminds me of a Daniel come to judgment," said the Minister, "because these lines, were all contemplated and in hand when the Leader of the Opposition was Minister of Public Works and Prime Minister. The House and the country were given assurances by him, when Minister, that investigations had \ been carried out concerning all these lines, and now,-when he is Leader of the Opposition, he has:» developed a desire that it should be done all over again." AH work would have to cease if the amendment was carried, and many men would be thrown out of work in consequence, continued Mr. Forbes. Those men would be difficult to place in other jobs. . .-.

Southern Line Defended. ; Mr. Forbes, vigorously defended I*e policy of constructing the South Island Main Trunk line, which he believed was the only line to which Mr. Coates really referred in moving his amendment. It was sound business policy to_ complete lon<* lilies of railway, especially, the South Island Main Trunk. Of that he was convinced. ■', • . Mr. J. A. Nash (Palnierston): Sen : ousl'y.? - _ Mr. Forbes said the Canterbury Progress' League had carefully investigated the line and had inspected the country through which it would pass, so as to be sure.the line was warranted. In Mr. Forbes' opinion an unanswerable case was made out by the deputation which waited on the Government and discussed the r line, with members of Parliament earlier in the session. .. I Advantages of the Line. Mr. Forbes reviewed the statements and arguments advanced on that occasion, and said he believed that just as people in other countries desired to travel' as : far as possible by rail, so would the people of tfew Zealand show a similar disposition. They would not leave the train at Lyttelton to travel by ferry steamer, but would go as far north as possible by train, so as to, make the sea crossing as. short as possible. The completion of this line would mean that one of the most fertile provinces, m the Dominion, too long separated, from Christchurch, would be linked up with its-natural market. The -line, would mean that thousands, ot sheep which could not now. be taken ° successfully could be transported jn good condition to.the-fattemng.plains of Qa-n----terburv. He was that-the line ' sbouldW its

progress since the day, it was inaugurated. However, the carrying of. this amendment would mean the stoppage of work. Mr. Coates: Nonsense. Mr. Forbes: Well, that word may also be applied to the right honourable gentleman's amendment. The Government could not go on if any doubt was cast by this House on the advisability of completing the line. Labour Leader With, Government. The Leader of the Labour party, Mr. H. E. Holland, said the amendment would mean that all lines under construction would have to be stopped if the amendment were carried. He hoped that all who voted for it fully understood that such was the case. The carrying of the amendment would affect not only the South Island Main Trunk and the Midland line, but also.the inoffensive East Coast line, which should be finished, and the Lower Hutt section of the Wellington-Napier line. He would not throw over the principles he had stood by for the past ten or eleven years, and for that reason he could not support the amendment. He believed the lines in the South Island should be completed. Referring to the assurance that the South Island Main Trunk would, be completed (alleged to have been given by Mr. Coates). Mr. Holland stated that Mr. Girling; ex-member for Wairau, had stated publicly that ; Mr. Coates had given him such an assurance. Would the Leader of the Opposition deny it? Knowing Mr. Girling as he did, Mr. Holland believed that Mr. Girling would not say that had he not been given such •an assurance, whether by telegram or otherwise. Mr. Fletcher Dissatisfied. Mr. Coates: You keep on guessing. Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Grey Lynn) said the Government should not bring down railway proposals involving/an expenditure of millions without-; producing, definite estimates. Such estimates had not been provided. "The Government has definitely failed to produce , the goods to enable us to vote intelligently on this authorisation,"" he said. In the circumstances he declined to ', vote either for the amendment or for authorisation. Amendment Rejected. On a division M r - Coates' amendment was negatived at 2 o'clock, the voting being:— ; For Amendment,(2s). Ansell Macmillan Bitchener Martin Campbell ," ' Mason Coates Massey . Dickie '"■/.., Nash Field Samuel Hall White Hamilton Sy'kes Harris . Wilkinson Henare ■ Williams . Jones .*';, Wright Kyler Young Linklater Against the Amendment (42)/. Armstrong Lysnar Atmore, McDonald Black McDougall Bodkin McKeenBroadfoot ''*. Macpherson Carr Makitanara Chapman Munns Clinkard Muhro Cobbe * Murdoch De la.Perfelle Ngata Donald O'Brien Forbes Parry Fraser ,:.% Ransom .. ..,„».. . Hawke" ;: Savage Healy . ! " Semple : Holland, H. E. Smith • Howard Stallworthy. >, Jenkins Sullivan . Jordan , , Taverner Langstone Veitch Lye . Wilford When the bill was in committe Mr. A. Hamilton (Awarua) moved that clause two of the schedule (Midland line) be struck'out. : ' .' •.' ::,"'"..

The Leader of the Labour, party objected to this, in view of the fact that Mr, Coates had made a statement that his party would not, hinder the. bill, yet, Mr. Holland said, here was a member of the Reform party violating the agreement, which he (Mr. Holland) believed had been honourably made.' There was only one thing to do, arid that was to vote out Mr. Hamilton's amendment. When the question was put Mr. Hariiilton called for a division, and the bells rang, but Mr.' Hamilton then refrained from forcing the division. The bill was committed and passed unamended, and the House adjourned at 3 a.m. till 11 a.m.