RAILWAY COSTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19928, 15 May 1930, Page 10

RAILWAY COSTS.

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN LINE. MR POLSON AT BLENHEIM. (i'&tiS /.SBOCIAYIO Teleobau.) BLENHEIM, May 14. Unusual public interest was displayed in to-hight's address by Mr W. J. Pol« son, M.P., president of tho Farmers' tJnioli, in View Of his reported state* meats at Invercargill and elsewhere in reference to tho prosecution of tho South Island Main Trunk railway. Mr Poison was reported as stating that the line would cost £15,000,000 to complete, and that as the Dominion's annual rail* way loss was £2,000,000 and the line could never pay, it should be stopped. As the estimate for the «ost of tho railway is not £15,000,000 but £2,500,000, Marlborough people, beaded by the local Farmers' Union, demanded an explanation, which Mr Poison gave tonight. A big crowd was present, and Mr W. T. Churchward had been tip* pointed by the Progress League, with the sanction of the Farmers' Union, to address certain questions to Mr Poison. The speaker Claimed that he had been misreported in the south, and that what he said Was that £15,000,000 was being spent not on tho South Island Main Trunk or in the South Island, but oh the whole of the New Zealand railways. If it eould be shown that the South Island Main Trunk would not result in serious loss, he would bo the first to help to secure it. However, this did not apply io the Nelson line. The position there Was different. That lino could never pay, he was afraid, and in any case the country had been so shattered by the earthquake that a thorough in* vestlgatlon was essential. The meeting ended \"ery curiously. A motion of thanks to Mr Poison was put and carried, and Mr Poison moved the customary voto to the chairman. The chairman thereupon declared the meeting dosed, but Mr Churchward rose and asked leave to address certain questions to Mr Poison. The Mayor, who presided, said Mr Poison had informed him that his visit was purely and simply on Farmers' Union matters, and he would answer no questions on political subjects, Mr Churchward: But you have not heard the questions. The Mayor: Anyway, I rule there will be no questions, and the meeting is closed. Mr Churchward: Very good, sir. What had promised to bo a very lively meeting then terminated without a single one of the many questions Marlborough wants to ask Mr Poison being' put.