RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16852, 4 June 1920, Page 6

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

♦ HON. J. G. COATES'S SCHEME. COMPLETION OP MAIN LINES. (FIIESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, Juno 3. Questioned to-day as to what th« future policy of bis Department would be in regard to railway the Hon, J. CJ. Coates said his idea was to push on with the completion of all the main lines in accordance with their national importance. lie could not say tor the moment which were the most- important lines, nor would he make a public statement on the subject until he had drawn up his scheme and placed it liofore Cabinet. It would be for Cabinet to decide what course should be followed. All ho could do was to make his recommendatiens, and if these were varied in any way. then the Government would be responsible. Instead of constructing a whole lot ' of lines throughout the country, ifr Contes said his object was to lav down a. well denned f-ystcm, which would ensure the speedy completion of any lines, taken in hand. It would bo a suicidal policy to follow the system adopted by previous Onvernnients* of starting lines in every little nook and corner all over the country. Ilis idea was that the Main line* should be the first consideration of his Department, and then the others of less imnortanco comparatively would follow. Mr Conies mentioned that the North Auckland Main Trunk Line was to be pushed on with all speed, his idea being to pet that completed as quickly as possible.