NELSON RAILWAY SYSTEM

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22465, 28 July 1938, Page 12

NELSON RAILWAY SYSTEM

❖ Plea for Completion Of Midland Line ECONOMIC VALUE DISCUSSED [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 27. An assertion that the Nelson Midland railway line had as good claims to the attention of the Government as almost any other in New Zealand was made by Mr K. J. Holyoake (National, Motucka) in the financial debate in the House of Representatives to-day. The Government proposed to spend £1,440,000 on construction this year, said Mr Holyoake; but there was no mention of the Nelson railway. “Why it is the Cinderella of the New Zealand railway system?” he asked. “If it is the policy of the country to spend money on railways, that line has as good a claim as any lino,” said Mr Holyoake. “It would connect the Nelson Province with the rest of the South Island railway system. Its economic value, when finished, would compare more than favourably with the economic value of the South Island Main Trunk, as the population it would serve would be very much larger.” Nelson produce was, in general, the bulkiest produce of the Dominion, as it was to a groat extent comprised of fruit, and its offering of freight was spread over a longer period than elsewhere in New Zealand. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage): Does the hon. member recommend that the Government should start and finish the Midland line? Mr Holyoake; Certainly. “Influential deputations have waited on the Prime Minister many times with that request, and we have had a promise that it would bo given favourable' consideration,” said Mr Holyoake. “We had a survey party in the district two years ago to estimate the cost: but we have not heard of them since. Surely there has been time enough since then to allow the Minister to say in his Budget that some action is to be taken. The line would have a tremendous cnonomic value.” The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hui'unui): What is its political value? Mr Holyoake said that he did not know if value should be assessed politically. He hoped, however, that the line would not bo made the subject of mere election promises.