RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10759, 12 September 1900, Page 5

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

MEETING OF SOUTH ISLAND MEMBERS.

NORTH VERSUS SOUTH—DEJL.ND *FOR EQUAL TREATMENT.

(special to "my. fiiess.") WELLINGTON, September 11. An important meeting of South Is-huid members wu_ held this evening in the large room set apart for the Opposition ujtsteirs. There were 24 members pi-sent. Major Steward was voted (o the chair.

Mr G. W. Russell said the meeting had be_n called in consequence o-f some talk between Mr Mitter, representing Otago, Mr R. Mc__en_ie, representing Nelson and the West Coast, aud himself as a- Canterbury representative. It appeared to be tha opinion of a number of South Island metn-bei-s that the Nort—, Island mejubei- liad organised and brought considevablo pressure to bear on Government' in connection with the North I_l_nd Trunk Railwny. 'fae posifion occupied by the .South Island in connection witli -railway ceuistruction should be considered. He thought that all representatives from the South Island would agree that whenever a policy of railway construction wm und.rtal.cn, there should be no special ad van-tug. giveu to any one part of the colony. (Hear, hear.) The expenditure should be distributed as far as possible in a fair manner over the main trunk lines of the colony that were uncompleted. Tlwxe should also be considered those necessary branches and extensions that were d-sh-.-b.'* in the interests of revenue a«- well as tbe int-rests of the colony. Perhaps it, migte be desirable to appoint ti sub-committee: to report generally as to the .position of tive Midland, Waip_i-a.-Bknhe.im, Ota-go Central, and other lines uncompleted iv the Sout-h Island, and Unit the South Island members should then unitedly inform the Government that they expected the same treatment as was to be extended to the North island Trunk Line. He noticed that the I'lrexni.r had stated that £150.000 would be spenton the North Isla-id Trunk Line ticis year. and £350,000 nest year. 3_uch expe.idit_r© was so largely in excess of what h»d been spent- in past yeara, that it would be unreasonable if other ports of the colony dl«l not have their railways completed within, a similar time. So far us Canterbury was concerned, it was important that the Wai-piu-a-Blenheim line should be pushed on, but. he thought the majority of tlio Canterbury members would agree that it was absolutely essential that the Midland Railway should ba completed within reasonable time also. Mr J. A. Millar, as one of tlie conven-i----of the meeting, drew attention to tit* fad that North Island members 'having got pro mises regarding the Main Trunk Line, won now making further demands regarding tht railways north of Auckland. He thought i. ww?", therefore, time t.u_t some attention should l be shown to the South. Island 11 the whole attention of the Government was to be concentrated on the Nortih Island Trunk Line, it would be many years before those in tlie Soutu would get their lines finished. It was quite possible that they would rind on the Public Works Estimate- a larger sum of money far North Iskvnd lines than would be allocated for South Island lines if they drd not take action. . Mr Roderick 'McKenz-io concurred m what had been said. The North Island member. had monopolised, the time of the Government in trying to force on their own lines.He argued that equal justice should tro given' to the South Island and that the hn* should be pushed on with equal speed. It wan their duty to see, before tie Estimates were framed, -that tlie South Island lines ieceived- equal consideration. In .lie koutto. the Slid-lnd and other lines were of grow importance, and there were lines in the ! SoVth Island upon which the of pubUu money wis pre ' «ent state of th* finances of the- colonj. Mr James Allen said he thought lb was t pity that the South Island members ha« been compelled to meet in caucus, but the position had been forced upon them. (Hear, hear.) Every South Island member must regret that they bad been caJJed together in Jf-defence, for u_ took it that such waa th. position. Although be believed that tb* North Island trunk line ought to be constructed as quickly as- po»">le, ; >" et ™ the point of view of one living in tire South I«k_id, the completion of the line to Pieton was as important to them as the North Island trunk line to the. northerner*, while of more importance still was tho completion of the Otago Central to Hawea from an Otago point of view. If t-l» bouth Island railways wero likely to suffer on account ol the krger vote for tlhe North Island trunk line, then the southern members were bounc to band themselves together for protection. Ho did not think they should attempt to force the Government to give much larger votes for railway construction than they were at present giving, as they must all recognise that the time was not ripe for _e.urinn loans—(Sev.ro_neu.bers"--Hear, hear. ) —but if their North Island friends traced the hand of the Government, then only two positions were open to the southerner.. Either they must persuade the Government, to go easy, or, if the Government would nob do this, then the South Island must be m the swim." If the Government promised the completion of tbe North Island trunk line within four years, then those present, bad a right to demand the completion °f the line to Pieton and the Otago Central within-four years. If the Premier was prepared to agree to that, well and good, but he doubted if the colony could stand such large expenditure at the present time. Mr Prase. (Wakatipu) raid it wuh the old story of the bundle ol sticks. Individually they could do nothing, but collectively they could do a great deal. He did not mean to say they should bring pressure on the Government to go in for a big expenditure, but tlieir action might help the Government to withstand improper pressure in a direction they thought might not be right, or in a direction that might mitigate against the just claims of the South. (Hear, hear.) Whatever they intended to do should be done before the Public Works Estimates came down.

Mr Mills (Government Whip) said they were not antagonistic to the North Island, but they wished to see the national policy of the main trunk lines of the South adhered to, and also the policy in regard to those that had almost become mam lines. As there was not much time, he suggested that they should form themselves into a deputation to wait on the Premier. They could supply sufficient data to the Premier, and show "him and the Government that they were taking a direct interest in the matter. He thought the sooner they did that the better. Mr Thomson (Cliitha) advocated the claims of branch lines. Mr Meredith said they did not wish any injustice to ba done to the North Island. All they wanted was equality of treatment. Ho suggested that they should arrange for an interview with the Premier and .Minister of Public Works. Mr Buddo urged that they should meet the Premier next evening. Mr Bennett said the completion oi the southern lines was of more importance at tho present time than the completion ot the North Island lines, on account of the mining industry. It was impossible at tha present time to get machinery, etc., into Central Otago. There were stacks of material covering several acres of ground now at the railway terminus waiting to l>. oonveyed inland. Their branch lines were of equal importance. Mr Graham suggested that they should arrange a plan of campaign before waiting on tbe Premier. It was not a hugborrowing policy they wanted, but only equal treatment. Mr Arnold advocated the appointment of -a sub-committee to get all necessary information.

Mr Russell moved that a sub-committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs James Allen and Millar (Otago), 1 aimer and Resell (Canterbury), R. and Guinness (Westlancf), Graham and Mid* (Nelson), with Major Steward as chairman. Mr Tanner said be would prefer to stand out in favour of Mr Meredith, who was more directly interested in the Waipara line. ~ , ■Mr Guinness said the question was were they to ask the Government to borrow more aad more so as to have a rapid con-

struct ion of their works, or were tbey to be H-ti.-Uxl to go on as tbey Itad been K'lirii,'. If they wwi> to onothane railway mtist Miction, it would be mnc-dal to go on at i Htmls p;uv. The Auckland memliers Ii;m1 urged tl_U, their line sliould be pushed ahead, and the Premier had actually promimil them a large vote, and also that tlie line would I*> completed in four years. If the <H«veninM>nt pledged themselvf* to that. they niii«t n_ike a similar pledge in regard U> the Nou-b, or to stop ;mi undue expenditure in l-he North. That was the ixwition th.-it h.ul Wti\ forced upon them through :4ie attitude of t!u> North IslaJxl member*. l'lte money minired for ihe completion of *lw South"lsland lines was £2,160,000. and f<«r the North Island lines £1.566,000. so him. memWs \vi.»ulfl see that the South 1-d.mil proportion should be much bigger tbiUi that of tin: North.

Mr RuKM.l—Of i-iurae it's spread over a larger tmrniwr of line*.

Mr RirswHr. l * motion was agreed to unanijiniusly, it was fur-her resolved that the snln-i>mmit«.H' slnmld re|K>rt to another g»'.nonil niH-iing of South Island memliers on Tliun-day.