RAILWAY POLICY. LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH ROUTE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1909, Page 8

RAILWAY POLICY. LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH ROUTE.

NEW LINES MUST RETURN 3 PER CENT. PRINCIPLE MIGHT BE APPLIED GENERALLY. PLAIN STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD. A deputation representing the Law-rence-Roxburgh Railway League waited on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works to-day to urge the | further prosecution of the railway line in that district into the interior. The deputation was introduced by Mr. Arnold, M.P., and included Messrs. Jas. Allen, R. Scott, and T. K. Sidey, M.P.'s, and the Hons. J. R. Sinclair, J. T. Paul, and J. B. Callan, M.L.C.'s. Representatives were also present to give expression to the views of the j people of Dunedin on the question. Inj cidentally the deputation led to Sir Joseph Ward making an important statement on railway construction. Mr. Arnold stated that the announcement that the line would be stopped because it would be an unpayable lino had created consternation in the South. The deputation advanced a mas.s oi' information in support of their argument that the line should be proceeded with. Mr. John Bennetts pointed out the .possibilities and prespnt achievements of the district as a fruit-growing centre and the suitability of the district for raisins; early lambs. There were immense deposits of coal in the districts, the quality of the lignite being of the very best. With a railway constructed coal could be landed m Lawrence at 12s per ton. He referred also to the agricultural and mining industries in the district. Sir Joseph interrupted at this stage, and said he was quite prepared to aay what the Government was prepared i-o do. He wished to say clearly that it was not the intention os. the Government to carry out railways which were foot going to pay. He wanted to say_ this quite definitely. There was one railway in the country at the present time which was not paying. The Government did not want to extract anything to which they we.re not entitled from the people. The Government was prepared to recommend to Parliament that this line should be carried to Beaumont, but not. to Roxburgh. This would give another opportunity to see whether the railway would pay. The people interested would be asked to pay the difference between 3 per cent, and what the railway actually earned. The people ought to make up this difference. Looking at the railway system of the country as a whole, he did not think the Government should be pressed into the position of providing railways that were going, to pay less than 3 per cent. That amount was not equal to the interest paid. The Government was anxious to help the people. If the people interested m this railway had faith, and were prepared to support that faith, the Government was anxious to help them. The Government expected tb# particular railway to pay 7) per cent., and they proposed to ask Parliament to make such provision as would enable any shortage to bo made wp ; and the same prinmple would apply to any other line asked to be constructed. After a good deal of questioning, Sir Joseph Ward said he was quite prepared to make the principle which he had expounded apply generally. The Government would accept responsibility for M-li.it it did. As to the suggestion that a lieht line of railway should be constructed, he maintained that the cost of construction in New Zealand was not oxcessive. If 701b rails had originally been laid down a great deal of expense would have been saved. Further questioning did not elicit any new facts, and the deputation retired, on the understanding that it would consider what the Prime Minister had said, and later on announce what determination it had come to, or advance further arguments, if necessary.