NEW LOCOMOTIVES

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 8

NEW LOCOMOTIVES

PURCHASE IN GREAT BRITAIN MINISTER REPLIES TO MR. VEITCH CONSIDERABLE SAVING A Press Association message from Wanganui was published in tlio local papers recently, intimating that Air. W. A. Veitch, M.P., had written to tho Minister of Railways strongly dissenting from tho spending of. large sums of public money outside the Dominion for tho purchase of locomotives, which Air. Veitch considered could be manufactured in tho Dominion at a cheaper rate, urging the necessity of immediately establishing the necessary plant for the purpose, and characterising the Government’s action in purchasing tho engines abroad as a grave public scandal while capable, workmen were tramping the roads in‘search of employment. Air. Guthrie, Minister of Railways, who only returned to Wellington from tho south on Saturday night, made tlio following statement in connection with the matter to a. representative of this naper yesterday:— “Air. Veitch’s letter dated January 25 was duly received. Air. Veitch published his'statement on January 26. and posted his letter on the 27th. It reached my office on Monday, the 29th, three days alter the publication of the Press Association message. “It was fully anticipated that Air Veitch would take tho opportunity offered bv my statement regarding the purchase of'tlie five additional locomotives in Great Britain to repeat the assertions he made so often in the House last session and during the election campaign. Despite the facts that both the Primo Minister and I repeatedly corrected the statements made by Mr.' Veitch, and that the purchase price of tho engines at present under order in Great Britain is thousands of pounds less than they could be manufactured for here, and also remembering that the contract placed in Englend would have been completed with the arrival of the two engines which were lost in tb.o Wiltshire. Mr. Veitch persistently reiterates the assertion that they could be built in the Dominion for less. He has also been informed on many occas ons that the Government had no option but to place the contract for tho 45 AB locomotive.’ abroad owing to the fact that wo had neither the men nor the material during tlio war period to construct them in New Zealand, and, as Mr. Veitch was very well aware, a large number of the locomotives in use in the Dominion were very old some ol them over forty years in use, of obsolete type, and low tractive power, expensive to run, and liable to frequent breakdowns. Consequently they -were quite unsuited to present-day requirements, and urgent measures had to be taken to replace them with modern types The. new engines are thoroughly up tc date and capable of doing the very best work poss'blo on the. gauge used in New Zealand.

“So far as the statements contained in Mr. Veitch’s recent communication are concerned, a full explanation of the Government’s action m placing an order in Great Britain f< r five additional cigines, for practically fho price of tho two lost iij the wreck of the Wiltshir?. Was published in the statement made by mo in 'lbn-i Dominion on January 24, 'when it was pointed, out that the imported locomotives will be brought to the North Island, thus saving tho Department a considerable expense in transporting a similar number which are under construction nt the Addington Workshops to the North Island, a.nd nt the same time enabling tho latter to be made available for the Christchureli-Greymouth service.

“I emphasised the fact that the importation ->f these locomotives would not affect the position at the New Zealand railway workshojis, as they alrcady\have a programme which is more than sufficient tn keep the whole of the shops fully employed for the next, two years, and Messrs. Price Bros, have still sixteen locomotives to deliver under their contract, which will take three rears to complete. “It is very difficult to understand Mr. Veitch's assertion that it would bo possible to build tho engines more cheaply in the Dcnartm-nt’s own shops,' whieh he considers . should be extended for the purpose, in the light of tlie comparative costs of construction given in my statement. The cost of tho imported engines landed on the rails in New Zealand is approximately CG245. Built in railway workshops, approximately CSfidO, plus transport South to North Island. £300: total, £B3OO. Built by Price Bros., Thames, over £ll,OOO. “Seeing that- tho Department is saving about £l5OO in transport and assembling costs on the engines being menufact med at Adilington by utilising them on the Christchurch-G revmouth service, instead of in the North Island, it is obvious that the Government’s action in placing an order fo>five engines for approximately the. prime lo.nclod cost as tho insurauc© the two lost in the AViltGiire, must bn considered as most sntisLu-tory irom every point of view, especially when it is T-emcmbered that our own shops r-m fully occupied, and that the cost of the. loeomnt.is over £2OOO less than those being constructed in the Depart merit’s shops, f am sfrc'd that Ml- - will not he grateful for all the information about railway'engines with which I have, supplied him. but in anv ease tbo pnhTc will be satisfied to know the actual position. “I may say.” said Mr. Guthrie m conclusion, “that the pcce paid fo” the additional live locomotives now hoiim imported has po bearing on the cost preo of the engines being manufoetured by Messrs. Price B-os. Thames, as 11m mater-nl for thri contract was purchased, when prices and wages were verv much in excess of Those ruling to-day.”