NO NEW RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 675, 27 November 1909, Page 5

NO NEW RAILWAYS.

DECLARATION BY HtEMIEB. A deputation consisting of Messrs. Cottrell and Hall, of Westport,' and Mr. George Powell, of Charleston, waited on the Prime Minister yesterday, to,ask that the Westport Harbour Board's endowments should be extended to tho northern boundary of the Grey, so as to give tho right to build a railway to: tap the coal, timber, firo-olajr, and other minerals of the Charleston Biding of the Buller County. Mr. Colvin, mcmbor tor Buller, introduced the deputation, whoso request was supported by petitions bearing between nine hundred and a thousand, signatures. ' "' : Tho Prime Minister did not entertain the proposal favourably. .. He objected to the extension of the boundary, as most of the land in the district was. part of the national endowment, and he thought that the Westjiort Harbour Board had quite enough endowments. He objected also to giving local bodies, companies, or individuals the right to mako railways which would compote ;vrjth Government linos. Ho did not favour the construction of any more new f railways till tho present branch: lines were, completed. He would look into tho matter further, but those were'his Opinions at tho time.