Nelson Railway Wrangle Revived

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 12

Nelson Railway Wrangle Revived

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 21. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), as member of Parliament for Motueka in 1938, described Nelson as the “Cinderella district of New Zealand,” Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opposition, Nelson) said in the House of Representatives tonight “For some reason he now has some spite on this district,” said Mr Whitehead. “He seems to have turned his back, not only on this dis- ■ trict,' but on the South Island." Mr Whitehead was speaking during the committee stages of the Government Railways Amendment Bill. The bill repeals the Labour Government’s 1960 legislation authorising the construction of the Nelson railway and makes legislative provision for the present notional railway. The bill was the death blow to the hopes of the people of Nelson for a railway, said Mr Whitehead. Mr L. R. Adams-Schneider (Government, Hamilton) said Mr Holyoake was one of those who had worked to give the district a notional railway. The Nelson railway would have cost £l6 million to build and another £1 million a year to run. “I believe the notional railway can do the job and give better service at lower cost,” said Mr AdamsSchneider.

Mr H. G. R. Mason (Opposition, Waitakere) said: "There is nothing here to say there will be one penny of subsidy. Any subsidy will be paid from the Railways Account.” Mr M. Moohan (Opposition, Petone), a former Minister of Railways, said it was very easy for members whose districts were well served by railways to try to stop another city from getting an amenity that Hamilton enjoyed. “Never at any time was the cost to have been £l6 million.” said Mr Moohan. The notional railway had, so far, cost the Railways Department £307.000. System Supported

The Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine) said the notional railway was better than anything the people of Nelson would get from a physical railway. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Skinner) said the present Government promised to give Nelson a railway. “I am convinced we were justified in going ahead with the railway.” said Mr Skinner.

Mr Holyoake said the Opposition's decision to debate the bill seemed like “flogging a dead horse” Figures showed that Nelson was growing much faster than any other South Island centre even though it did not have a railway Nelson was attracting industry wi'hout a railway

Mr H Watt (Opposition. Onehunga) said he was certain that one day there would be a rail connexion between Blenheim, and Nelson

“The longer we delay the more it will cost.” he said. Mr P B. Allen (Government. Bay of Plenty) said there would have to be prohibition on all road transport if the physical railway was built. This would mean Nelson people would have to I)ay double handling charges Interest Charges

Mr McAlpine said the eost of the railway in interest alone would have been £2OOO a day on Labour’s figures On the basis of estimated freight this would cost £l2 a ton.

Mr McAlpine said that even between Christchurch and Dunedin the railway could not be made to pay. Mr C L. Carr 'Opposition Timaru): Is a railway built to make a profit or to service the community* Mr McAlpine: To service the community Rut it should at least pay its way. Mr Carr: Rubbish Mr McAlpine said a railway built in the rugged Nelson country could not possibly pay it way. » Mr Whitehead said that it'

was quite evident that the Government wanted to give Nelson a notional railway. But the bill did not do what the Government said it wanted to do. Mr McAlpine, in opposition last year, moved an amendment to the Nelson Railway Authorisation Bill to provide ramps at the Nelson wharves so that the Cook Strait rail ferry could call there, said Mr Whitehead, who asked the Minister if he proposed moving this amendment to the present bill.

Mr Whitehead said he had been against the amendment last year, but he would be in favour of it now. Mr McAlpine: Why weren’t you in favour of it last year? Amendments Mr McAlpine said that he had always been of the opinion that the cost of the notional railway should not be borne by the railways and shown as a loss by the railways. ' He accepted the amendment. moved by Mr Moohan, to add the words “from the Consolidated Fund” in the section dealing with the subsidy. An amendment by Mr N. E. Kirk (Opposition, Lyttelton) to add the words “Gisborne and Motuhora” in the appropriate clause was not accepted by the chairman of committees (Mr Jack).

The amendment, moved by Mr Whitehead, that the subsidy should equate railway fares and charges to the same extent as if the railway were a physical railway, and jhould not be altered or revoked without the authority of Parliament, was lost by 30 votes to 38.

The committee stages of the bill were completed.