SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 262, 1 August 1929, Page 10

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

CANTERBURY FARMERS’ UNION NON-COMMITTALL "SCHEME SPRUNG ON . THE COUNTRY” Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, July 31. A motion that the time was not opportune for taking a rote on the question of whether it was desirable that the South Island Main Trunk railway should be completed was carried by seven votes to four at to-day’s meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union. The subject cropped up as the result of the receipt of a resolution from the Little River branch heartily supporting the completion of the railway. The chairman (Mr. Colin Mclntosh) said that at the previous meeting of the executive the matter was brought foi yard by Mr. A. Fisher, and he (the chairman) considered that the time was not then opportune for taking a vote on the question. “While lam quite of opinion that this railway shoul. go through I think It is a scheme sprung on the country bv the Prime Minister without the sanction of Parliament and perhaps without the sanction of Cabinet,” the chairman added. “If we express an opinion one way or the other and show that we are divided, we won’t help the matter. We have either got to endorse the Prime Minister’s action or maybe put a nail in his coffin, and I don’t think that is desirable.” The motion that the time was not opportune for taking a vote on the question was then put to the meeting and carried. “I am very sorry, Mr. Chairman, that we have reached this decision,” said Mr. A. Fisher. Mr. Hall: We have not given a vote against the scheme. Mr. R. T. McMillan said that while the actual line would not pay, it might be a good thing for the development of the country. “I don’t agree with any of you; I thjnk the line will pay, and I’m sure of it,” said Mr. Fisher. “It’s going to build Christchurch and Canterbury.”