Mr Whitehead Protests At Decision On Nelson Line

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29389, 16 December 1960, Page 27

Mr Whitehead Protests At Decision On Nelson Line

(New Zealand Press Association)

NELSON, December 15. A protest at stopping work on the Nelson railway has been sent to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) by Mr S. A Whitehead, member of Parliament for Nelson. Mr Whitehead's telegram read: "On behalf of the great majority of Nelson people I strongly condemn your action in stopping work on the Nelson railway Without full investigation as promised. I suggest you immediately implement that promise and conduct a full inquiry into potential economics, with planning and survey work continuing meantime.’’

Mr Holyoake said this afternoon that action taken to stop work on the Nelson railway was “word for wprd” in line with the National Party's policy. This was his only comment on Mr Whitehead's telegram. The Minister of Works (Mr Goosman) estimated today that the Government would save about £150,000 thia financial year by its decision to stop work on the railway. He said Parliament had voted a

sum of £200,000 this year for railway construction on the Nelson line. About £50.000 would have been spent by the time tidying up work on the reclamation at Nelson had been completed in a few weeks’ time.

From other sources it is learned that if the Labour Government had been re-elected several major contracts would have been ready to let at about this time. Even so it is doubtful if the full vote would have been spent in this financial year.