RAILWAY WORK URGED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 3

RAILWAY WORK URGED

CONNECTING NELSON WITH WEST COAST

MINISTER'S FAVOURABLE COMMENT

[From Our Own Reporter.] WESTPORT, January 31. When he visited Murchison on Saturday, the Minister for Railways, the Hon D. G. Sullivan, heard further representations for the completion of the railway line between Nelson and the West Coast via Murchison. On several occasions during his tour of the northern districts of the South Island inspecting railway lines now operating, and investigating problems associated with his other portfolios, Mr Sullivan has been approached by influential deputations asking for the completion of the line to Murchison as the first step and then on to link up with the West Coast system as the ultimate aim. While giving a sympathetic hearing to all representations, he has at the same time emphasised that before the Government decides on the completion of any line, it would first need a water-tight assurance from the districts to be served that the railways must secure as near to 100 per cent, of the available traffic as is possible. He made the same statement at Glenhope, where he received an unconditional assurance from the small group of settlers that they were already giving the line that degree of support, and at Murchison, where an influential deputation showed its sympathy with his attitude by applauding the statement vigorously. Mr K. J. Holyoake, member for the district, who accompanied the Ministerial party as far as Murchison, advocated the completion of the railway link when .introducing a deputation from the > local authorities, and one of the 1 spokesmen said there was no doubt , among the people in the district that the line would get their support. :' Replying Mr Sullivan said that the Government had not made any preelection pledge to complete the line and could regard the position with a free hand when making any decision. He had never taken up the attitude that the question of building a line was to be decided solely on whether it would pay as a commercial venture, for he believed that it was possible that while the building of the line and its subsequent operation might not be profitable financially it could yet contribute to the economic (welfare of the country, and by its contribution to the national development

be a profitable venture in the long run. But, in any case, a definite arrangement to secure all the available traffic for the line would be necessary before its completion could be considered. Alternative competition had to be got rid of before the Government could authorise the expenditure of the large sum of money involved in completing a line. However, a survey officer was already on the spot to start the necessary investigation along the whole route. He could not commit the Government, but knowing the sympathetic attitude of its members to the development of the country, he was of the opinion that the Government would probably decide to complete the line. Mr Sullivan, who visited Murchison on the way down from Nelson to Westport, stopped the Week-end at Westport. On Saturday night he arrived after a long t~ip and spent all the evening hearing deputations from local people. One deputation asked for the provision of better ambulance facilities in the district, particularly to serve the mining settlements and Public Works Department camps. The Minister for Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, was present with the Hon. W. Mclntyre, and the men were promised that the matter would be discussed with the Minister for Health, the Hon. P. Fraser. to see if the Government could not assist in some way to provide at least one more ambulance for the Millerton-Stockton district. To-day the Minister, who is taking every opportunity to inspect the in-

dustries of the districts through which he travels, visited some of the pakihi lands of Buller, where research into the problems of utilising this type of country for farming is yielding encouraging results Th« Minister voiced his amazement at the work being done there and satisfaction with apparent potentialities of the ps&ihi country He had Deen convinced of these possibilities from a technical point of view, he said, but he was anxious to see the results of investigation of the economic aspect before committing himself on future, plans. However, he had been thrilled at what he had seen. Tomorrow the Minister will inspe6t the Buller Gorge railway.