CHRISTCHURCH-LYTTELTON LINE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH-LYTTELTON LINE.

MR C. M. GRAY'S PROPOSALS FOR ELECTRIFICATION.

ffSFECIAI. TO "THE fRESS.") WELLINGTON, September 25. Speaking on the Imprest Supply Bill this afternoon, Mr C. complained that hitherto when ho liad referred to the electrification of the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway tho Minister for Railways had treated his remarks either with indifference or with levity. Indeed, added Mr Gray, ho had indulged in a levity that was painful to observe. That, he said, was so unlike Mr Hall-Jones, because generally he was sympathetic and of a practical turn of mind. Mr Gray then proceeded to give a lecture on electrification of railways in other parts of tho world. In America, ho said, there had lx»en the greatest development in this direction. After quotiuj* some successful instances of electrification, he said members, and particularly Ministers, wore inclined to indulge in an incredulous smile. "An incredulous smile," continued tho member for Christchurch North, is not the way to meet hard facts, because facts are "chiels that winna ding anJ canna bo disputed." (Cries of "Ah'" from hon. members.) Mr McLachlan: You stay where you ara. . i

Mr Gray: I gave that for the special benefit of the member for Ashburton. Mr Gray proceeded with his lecture, jumping from America to Italy, and talked so glibly about "third rails" and other technicalities that Sir Joseph Ward was constrained to be jocular, and intorjected - something about thero being no need to send for an expert.