SOUTH MAIN TRUNK

Evening Post, Issue 12, 14 July 1936, Page 10

SOUTH MAIN TRUNK

'WORK WILL NOT STOP'

MARLBOROUGH REJOICES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

BLENHEIM, July 13,

Music by two bands in streets illuminated by coloured lights and decorated with greenery, flags, and banners, on which were emblazoned messages of welcome, formed the background to a reception accorded to the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) and the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb), who arrived by air specially to attend celebrations | arranged to mark Marlborough's rejoicing at the decision of the Government to complete the South Island Main Trunk railway. The Ministers were entertained at a local body dinner, when appreciative references were made to the Government's determination to finish the line.

Enthusiastic ■ demonstrations punctuated the reply by Mr. Semple, who declared: "You can take it from me I that unless all Cabinet dies in the meantime this work will not stop. We have considered all the aspects, and although we will be slow in making a start because we have no gear yet, and there will be difficulty in getting timber to erect accommodation for the workmen, there will be hundreds of men on the line before very long. We are going to spend £30,000 on equipment—not picks and wheelbarrows, but up-to-date machinery, some of which is already on the water and should be here in a week or two." STOPPAGE CONDEMNED. . Mr.Webb was also warmly received. He condemned the stoppage of work on the line, which had resulted in a waste of public money besides putting men out of employment just when work was most needed. "I venture to say that before the term of this Parliament is over there will be trainloads of people travelling between here and Christchurch, while every weekend will see people taking trips by that new form of rail transport, the railCar, which is only at the beginning of its development," said Mr. Webb.

Later hi his speech Mr. Webb qualified his statement regarding the time of the completion of the line by saying that by the end of this Parliament the work would be so far advanced that no Government could stop it. "I assure you the work will go on until Marlborough is linked with Canterbury and the dream of the early settlers fulfilled. If Mr. Seddon could look down on us today he would say, 'Well done; you are carrying out the policy I laid down many years ago.'" Escorted by bands and crowds of people the Ministers later proceeded to the Town Hall, where they were tendered a civic reception, followed by a municipal ball.

The Ministers tomorrow will proceedvto Westport for similar celebrations on Wednesday in connection with the Inangahua railway.