SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18152, 15 August 1924, Page 8

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

CONNECTING LINKS. DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT. (.SPECIAL TO "THE PJiSSS.") WELLINGTON, August 14. A deputation of West Coast members of Parliament waited on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works to-day to urge the more speedy prosecution of the Glenhope-Inangrshua railway, and the railway through t-o Westport. Mr E. P. Hudson, M.P., said he was present mainly in the interests of those who wanted the extension to Murcliison. There were about 27 miles to be built, of which five miles were almost formed. The last vote was £30.000, and there were now only about 100 men employed, which was playing with a big undertaking. Mr H. Atraore. M.P., said that £30,000 would not make many miles of the line, if it would make even a mile. The original agitation for the construction of the line came from Nelson, and the line was part of the main line right through to the Bluff. The Nelson people were also keen on the line through to Westport. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., gave general support to the proposals of the deputation. It was generally admitted that the South Island railway system would not be anything like complete until the gap was tilled. He was there to speak more particularly in connexion with the Westport-Inangahua Junction section. The people on the Coast appreciated very much what had already been done. Work was proceeding as far out as Cascade Creek, where a co-operative company was getting coal. Further out were the coal mines at Burlev's, in the Buller Gorge, where there was a vast amount of coal. A seam of good household coal over 20ft thick, was within sight. As soon as the line reached Cascade Creek it would be carrying coal, which would pay well. Everyone realised that the line had to be completed. It was part of the policy of the country. The only question was how soon the work should be done. The sooner it was completed the sooner the line would be earning interest on the money spent on it.

The Hon. "W. W. Snodgrass, the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, and Mr J. O'Brien also spoke. Minister's Reply.

The Hon. J. G-. Coates said the distance between Nelson and Murchison was 84 miles, and there were still about 25 miles of the lino to be completed, at an estimated cost of £450,000. There was no difficulty in the work as far as Murchison. He pointed out that the line had not yet been authorised for the full distance, but only to the 75-mile peg. There was, however, plenty to go on with. The proposal was not attractive from a paying point of view. One could not get enthusiastic about the prospects. Mr Hudson: But it runs to a deadend now. The Minister: It will still run to a dead end. To go on to Inangahua will cost over a million pounds beyond the £4f0,000. At present, he said, the Government had gangs of surveyors locating both these lines. Ifc was important to have proper surveys, the experience of the Departmemt in one or two cases being that by going to an expense of four or five thousand for a proper survey as much as £120,000 had heen saved in works. The Government's heaviest expenditure on railways was now concentrated on filling gaps, mostly in the North Island, and it would not pay the country to stop these works now, as there was a big loss on capital lying idle. He proposed to put a vote on the Estimates for both the works mentioned by the deputation.

Mr Massey Favours Both. Mr Massey said it -was almost a matter of form coming to him. He was glad to hear that although the progress had been slow there had been progress with these works. Personally, he thought that both would have to be completed. There was no serious difficulty as far as Murchison; after that ho could not say that there was not difficulty. He was aware of the fact that there were enormous supplies of coal in the Buller Gorge, which it was necessary to tap as soon as possible. As a coal line that line might pay. He thought it would. It would solve the difficulty of providing sufficient coal for the Dominion. There were deposits that would last for centuries. He could not promise the deputation anything definite at the moment, but votes would be pat on the Estimates for both works.