WORK RESTARTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 167, 16 July 1936, Page 18

WORK RESTARTED.

BULLER RAILWAY.

MINISTER TURNS A SOD.

CEREMONY AT WESTPOBX.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, Wednesday,

1 For the second time a sod was 1 turned to-day in connection with the construction of the Buller Gorge railk way. The first sod was turned by the late Rt. Hon. R. J. Secklon on January ' 22, lOOli, and the work was carried on ' intermittently until 1931, when it was ' closed (lowii by the Government of the 5 day. The Labour (iovcrnuient's decision t to resume the construction was marked s by a largely-attended ceremony at Westport today, the Hon. R. Sentple, 1 Minister of Public works, turning the * sod. I A proccssion a mile long, headed by the municipal band and with the child- | ren of the town schools, the general . public, and the Ministerial party included, marched to the top of Queen [ Street, where from a platform speeches t were made by the Mayor of Westport, Mr. .T. Kilkenny, the flon. P. C. Webb, > Minister of Mines and member for the » district, Mr. Seniple, the Hon. W. H. t Mclntyre, M.L.C., Mr. J. C. Brown, : president of the Buller Progress League, ■ Messrs. W. Woodcock and T. Shaw, - representing the Labour party, Mr. R. 1 Hawes, chairman of the Buller County ! Council, and Mr. W. Archer, chairman 1 of the Inangahua County Council. ; Man of Vision. > Mr. Webb said that when Mr. Sed- ; don turned the first sod he had no idea that the people were to be deprived I of the railway for 30 years. He was a . man of great vision, whose progressive- [ ness found expression in great national . works. The present Government was . possessed of a similar spirit and was i actuated by similar ideals. He was determined to see this railway through, . and also to encourage development of | the Pakihi and other lands and to establish new industries so that there would be plenty of work for the rising genera- ' tion. Mr. Webb spoke warmly of Mr. Semple as the first Minister in the world to introduce the 40-hour week; while the conference at Geneva was talking of this, Mr. Semple had introduced it, at the same time raising the wage minimum of 12/ a day for married men and 0/ for single men to 10/ a day. The Government had a mandate to do big things and it intended to do them. He hoped that next time they came the Christcliurch express would be close to where Mr. Semple was about to turn the sod marking the recommencement of the work. Three Cardinal Principles. Mr. Seniple said the railway was not a parochial one, but was part of the national scheme of development. "We live in a competitive age, both inside and without," said Mr. Semple, "and we must have our transport system right up to date if we are to succeed." In acquiring material for the railways, the Minister continued, three cardinal principles had been laid down. The first was to use material wljicli could be made or purchased in New Zealand; the second was to buy in England material which could not be obtained in New Zealand; and the third, to buy the best in the world where requirements were not obtainable in New Zealand or England. He wanted the men on the job to regard him not as a master but as a friend, and to co-operate so as to have the work done as expeditiously and effectively as possible.

Before the turning of the sod by Mr. Semple, the Mayor presented to Mr. Webb a miniature gold pick, to Mr. Semple a gold shovel, and to Mrs. Semple a coal brooch, all produced in the Buller district and given by the Buller Advancement Committee.