Mr Holyoake Again Seeks Information About Railway

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 18

Mr Holyoake Again Seeks Information About Railway

(N«w Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 11.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake) has written to the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Skinner) and the Minister of Railways (Mr Moohan) asking for a full statement on the constructional and operating facts and figures on which the Government based its decision to build the Mdson railway, ■,»;= , . Mr Holyoake said tonight that this was a result of a full discussion dn the proposed railway at last week’s National Party caucus. He said he hoped to make a statement of National Party policy on the railway when he spoke at a public meeting in Nelspn early next month. “I reminded the caucus that so far both the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) and the Minister of Railways have refused to give either the National Party or the people any idea of the date upon which, presumably, the Government’s decision is based,” saia Mr Holyoake. “The Government’s decision was announced during my absence abroad, and the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr Marshall) immediately asked publicly for this information. It was not forthcoming then, nor has there been a word or a figure of it since. “But we are still trying, and

we are determined to get the facts. Mr Nash has steadfastly refused to give them, so 'now that he has left the country, I have written to the Acting-Prime Minister and also the Minister (ft Railways asking specifically for the information on which the Government bases its estimate of £10,501.000 fot buHtDto Jhe line, S ‘•M jwSld itebetFS&i anl which -the National Psrffr, S le which they are clearly emitted,” Mr Holyoake said. “As matters stand, the Gototament cannot complain if we tend toward the conclusion that it to* nounced its intention to cottortot the Nelson railway, then want through the, motions of an Opto ing ceremony, and Is oubr to trying to sort out arguments to justify its action, rather like to author announcing a book and then searching franticalhr, Io find a story to go beneath !v “On the other hand, the Otoernment might have all the Information that is necessary, in which case we are all entitled to know what it is, and immediately,” Mr Holyoake added.