RAILWAY BILL DEBATE CONTINUED IN HOUSE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29263, 22 July 1960, Page 14

RAILWAY BILL DEBATE CONTINUED IN HOUSE

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 21.

The Prime Minister (Mr Nash) had treated the Minister of Railways (Mr Moohan) like an office boy over the Nelson railway, Mr D. N. McKay (Opposition, Marsden) said in the House of Representatives today. He was speaking in the second-reading debate on the Nelson Railway Authorisation Bill

Mr McKay said the Prime Minister had made all the statements on the railway. “Is the Minister of Railways in favour of the railway?" he asked. Mr Moohan smiled, but did not answer.

Mr McKay accused Mr Moohan of “masterly inactivity’’ over the railway. “I’m surprised the Minister has allowed himself to be pushed round by the Prime Minister." he said. Mr F. J. Kitts (Government. Wellington Central) said that Mr S. A Whitehead (Government. Nelson) today received a telegram from the Mayor of Nekson, Mr Russell, congratulating him on his support for the Nelson railway.

Mr N. L. Shelton (Opposition. Rangitikei) said that if all freight at present carried between Nelson and Blenheim by road was sent by rail it would still not cover the railway’s operating costs. He said Nelson already had a good port, a sealed-runway airport, and a good road to Blenheim.

Mr M. A. Connelly (Government, Riccarton) said that the Nelson Harbour Board was carrying out a programme of expansion af facilities, and because of the construction of the railway there would be a lot more work for shipping at Nelson and in other parts of New Zealand. Answering criticism of the cotton mill project, he said that the decision had been made by overseas investors, who had asked for a thorough examination of the economics of the proposition, and they were prepared to spend £2,000.000 and ultimately £4,000,000 In establishing a mill in the knowledge that it would be economic and that its production when exported would earn overseas funds for New Zealand Mr J. H. George (Opposition. Central Otago) said that they and their grandchildren would be taxed for the rest of their lives to pay for the railway. “What will the railway give Nelson that it has not got at the present time?” he asked.

In the notional railway Nelson had a better service than dozens of other districts. It had a door-to-door road service that was more efficient than rail He did not think that one more farm or one more acre of apples would be developed through the opening of a railway. Mr E. J. Keating (Government, Hastings) was speaking when the debate was interrupted by the tea adjournment at 5.30 pan.