EAST COAST LINE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 148, 19 December 1935, Page 10

EAST COAST LINE

NAPIER-WAIROA FIRST

RAIL-CARS TO BE USED

-■• (By Telegraph.) (From "The Post's" Special Reporter.) ' -,'■ GISBORNE,.This Day. ' Although indicating that the Government will complete the Napier-Gisborne line, .the , Minister ■of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) told a Gisborne audience last : night that it was his intention to concentrate in the first place on the Napier-Wairoa. section. That work -would be completed as soon as the. Government -could get the necessary authority, from Parliament. He would make a favourable recommendation.'. ' '- s ■".'■■ This, statement was made by Mr. Semple at a civic, reception shortly after his . arrival. in . Gisborne. After completing ■ his inspection of the railway route, the Minister spent practically, the whole, day .inspecting various parts of the Gisborne section. He left Wairoa shortly before 9 o'clock, and reached Gisborne about 4 o'clock. .Speaking 'at the civic reception, Mr. Semple.expressed,his determination to proceed v^th the railway, in. spite of the, Railways Board, which would have t,o get out of. the way. : He said he had been impressed with the nature of the land which! the railway would serve between Gisborne and Wairoa. , His inspection had satisfied him that with scientific ;top-dressing the land could be profitably settled. Once the line was completed it was up to the people of the district, to give it their full support; .That did not mean there would be a dictatorship and that the people would be prevented from'using other forms "of transport. -If- they wanted to, walk to Wellington or fly to Wellington they could do so.- ■ Mr. Semple later said that rail-cars would; be used on the,line,'and there would probably be a night service between Gisborne and Wellington.