P.M. praises retiring Minister

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 3

P.M. praises retiring Minister

PA Mangaweka The retiring Minister of Railways (Mr McLachlan) was praised by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) at the official opening of the $16.5 million Mangaweka railway deviation yesterday. ’• Mr Muldoon said that he was .especially McLachlan was with -Trim “because it is fitting that he should make his last major public appearance -as Minister of Railways at such an important and eventful opening as this. “Some good things happened for railways during his six years as Minister, but it was only when something went wrong and the critics of railways rushed in that he was in the public eye. “He met criticism in a quiet, dignified way, and in the best tradition of Ministerial responsibility never attempted to shift the blame,” Mr Muldoon said. Mr Muldoon’s party travelled by train about 10 kilometre’s to Taihape after the deviation was officially opened. The line had already been in use for several days. During his opening speech, Mr Muldoon noted that the deviation included three big bridges — the South Rangitikei, the Kawhatau, and the North Rangitikei. The “spectacular” South Rangitikei bridge, on five slender, tall piers, was the largest of the three and one of the biggest railway bridges in New Zealand. It was 315 metres long and stood 80 metres above the Rangitikei River. The extensive earthworks required for the deviation included a huge cutting 25 metres deep and more than 300 metres long, Mr Muldoon said.