SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 150, 29 June 1929, Page 8

SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK

LATE GOVERNMENT'S REPORTS

SIR JOSEPH WARD PLEDGED

The question of justification for the prosecution of work on the South Island Main Trunk railway was raised by Mr. H. G. B. Mason (Auckland Suburbs) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Mason asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the published statement made by him quoting the Fay-Raven Commission in support of the completion .of the South Island Main Trunk line, and the subsequent more detailed Fay-Casey report giving a divergent result, ho would cause the detailed -statement and argument' of the second report to be submitted to the authors of the first report for their consideration and comment. "I don't know whether it is necessary to submit the report of No. 2 regarding No. I to No. 2," said Sir Joseph amidst laughter. The Fay-Raven Commission,- he' said, had been set up by the late Government, and consisted of experienced railway officers from England. They reported to the Government recommending that the South Island trunk railway . should be proceeded with, adding that it was the only line of railway which they thought should be proceeded with; they recommended that the line be continued and completed. After they had returned to England, the late Government, for some reason best known to themselves, set up a committee consisting of Mr. Fay, junior—son of Sir Sam Fay, the member of the first Commission—and Mr. Casey, a respected officer of the Bailway Department, to go on an exploring expedition and report again on the matter. ' "They aaid," continued Sir Joseph, amidst laughter, "that Mr. Dad and Mr. Raven were wrong., \I can quite understand honourable members when they suggest that another Commission ought to be appointed to ascertain whether the Government that preceded this Government were right in selecting Messrs. Fay and . Raven in the first place to go out and report on our railways, and after having accepted their report authorised another minor Commission to report on the report of the other gentlemen." v The fact remained, he said, that the present Government had committed itself to the construction of the line. It came into power after the election having pledged itself to complete the railway. The Government now asked the House to confirm what the people had affirmed by returning the Government to office.