900,000 Tons For Line To Pay

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30536, 3 September 1964, Page 3

900,000 Tons For Line To Pay

(Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, September 2. A survey undertaken in 1962 showed that a railway between Nelson and Blenheim would have to carry 900,000 tons of freight a year to recoup operating costs and interest on the capital investment, the Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine) said in the House of Representatives today. He was replying to.Mr S. A Whitehead (Opp, Nelson). To recover operating costs only, 163,000 tons would have to be carried, the Minister said. Haast Road Talks Before the Haast Pass road link is opened next year, the Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) proposes to discuss

plans with all Interested organisations. Mr McAlpine was replying to Mr P. Blanchfield (Opp, Westland) who had suggested that a conference of all concerned, including traffic officers, should be called to discuss the problem of two-way traffic at peak periods and the possible introduction of one-way traffic on some sections. Whale Oil Glut As the supply of sperm whale oil exceeded demand, the Tory Channel whaler, Mr G. T. Perano, had sold 1200 tons of oil at approximately the cost of production the Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said when Mrs E. I. Tombleson (Govt, Gisborne) asked if there was a glut on the market. Mr Scott said there were 30,000 tons of whale oil on the world market in February and the price was £95 a ton. Some thought the price would rise. The New Zealand stock was not sold and the price dropped to £35 a ton. It was now £5B a ton. Industries using whale oil had begun to use synthetics.

Land Development A block of 5500 acres would be developed by the • Government when a 1140-acre ; property next to the 4360-acre ’ Maimai block, near Reefton, 1 was taken' over, the Minister : of Lands (Mr Gerard) said in . reply to a question from Mr ■ P. Blanchfield (Opp, Westland). The Maimai block was pakihi land with poor drainage and the other would offer better country as a base for ’ development, he said. • Airport Birds i There was no' complete answer to the problem of i aircraft striking birds on ap- , proaches to airports, said the ' Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr , McAlpine) in the House of ' Representatives today. Mr W. . W. Freer (Opp, Mount t Albert) had asked him what > action his department was 1 taking to minimise the dan- . ger. 1 Mr Freer asked what work - was being done, and Mr H. - Watt (Opp, Onehunga) asked If the department was

keeping up to date with experiments overseas. Mr McAlpine said his department was keeping up, and was also conducting research in conjunction with the University of Canterbury. Toll Delay The first stage of a delayreducing toll microwave system would be installed towards the end of next year between Wellington and Christchurch, the PostmasterGeneral (Mr Scott) said in reply to Mr J. B. Gordon (Govt, Clutha). The Dunedin section would be finished early in 1966.