The Railway Improvements.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18015, 6 March 1924, Page 10

The Railway Improvements.

The decision of the Progress League to send a deputation to Mr Massey to persuade him of the urgency of the need for improved railway facilities at Christchurch and between the city and the port is quite a sensible one. The need really is urgent, and no orderly and rational means of keeping Canterbury's opinion before the eyes of the Government ought to be neglected. Some of the members of the League, however, appear to have forgotten that the Minister of Railways and Public Works has already given an undertaking to make a definite statement on railway construction and improvement at an early date, and we have little doubt that Mr Massey will remind the deputation of this. The

League will be wise, therefore, to instruct its deputation that Canterbury's case will not be greatly helped by speeches which may imply that Mr Coates's promises and undertakings are distrusted. That is an attitude which it will be wise to leave to people with political axes to grind, and we may point out here that those who suggest that tho Government is indifferent or unfair to Canterbury's claims ought to remember, first, that it was not until Mr Massey took office that there was any real hope for the completion of the Otira tunnel, and, second, that the Government persisted in going on with this work in tho teeth of the most savage and persistent opposition from Auckland and the North Island generally. The League will do well, also, to reprobate such opinions as were expressed by Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P. Mr Sullivan explained that he was half-joking when he suggested that Canterbury people should refuse to pay taxes until the desired works are promised and put in hand, but even if he had been seriouß it would not have mattered. But it was another thing when he suggested that Messrs Witty and Isitt, whoso support is very important to the Government, might use their position to force the Government's hand in this matter. It does not appear that Mr Sullivan was anything but serious in making this suggestion, and that he did make it should let the League see how easily politics can creep in where politics should be strictly excluded. We are quite sure it is worse than useless to think of intimidating the Prime Minister; and it is quite unnecessary to do more than place the facts before him and show him that Canterbury is agTeed upon the urgency of better railway accommodation in Christchurch and the reconstruction of the communication with the port.