RAILWAY CONSTRUCTING

Evening Star, Issue 19024, 20 August 1925, Page 9

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTING

SOUTH ISLAND BIAIH TBUK DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER J [Fiiom Ora Parliament auy Refobxcb.j . WELLINGTON, Aguust 20. ' A’request that the Government should at least authorise the finishing of tho surveys for the completion of the South Island Main Trunk Railway was made to the Minister of Railways this morning by a very large deputation representing the combined progress leagues of the South Island. All that was asked for was a vote on the Publio Works Estimates sufficient to ensure a reliable working survey of the route to be traversed. Tim deputation submitted that this was a modest request considering the national importance or the undertaking. ~ I In stressing the need for completion of tlie Parnassus-Wharanui gap in the East Coast line, Mr J. H. Inackwell (president of the Canterbury Progress League) said that the gap .was a source of weakness to the whole railway sys- • tern of the dominion. The East Coast line should bo completed, as it offered the shortest possible route lor land traffic between the two islands. It was suggested that by spending £2,176,000 the. Government would redeem the annual loss on sections between Christchurch and Picton. The lino would not pay until it was completed. lli| speaker referred to the agricultural and pastoral potentialities ol the districts traversed. , r rp Tho request was supported by .Mr K. Sidey, M.P. (who introduced tha deputation), Mr Forbes, Mr Holland, Mr Girling, M.P.s, and representatives of the various progress leagues. The gnp was described by Mr B. 1% Gaulter (president of Marlborough Progress League) as the missing link in the line and the keystone of the arch. He submitted that the line would pay interest on the capital invested, and remarked that heavy American engines could be used. , “They would take all your stuff m one trip,” interjected the Prime Minister, amidst laughter. A mass, of information was presented. by oilier speakers concerning the productivity and potentialities of this unserved portion of the island. _ _ “ While not wishing to criticise tha Nelson line,” said Mr W. T. Churchward (vice-president of the same league), “ it never was and never could be the Main Trunk Line.” Hearty support of the request was voiced on behalf of the W estland Progress League by Mr W. J. Butler (president), but nevertheless, he said, they did not wish to sink their- own claims to the Main Trunk Lino. (Laughter.) Mr G. Mitchell said, on behalf of the Wellington League, that they did not care twopence which way the line went. The Prime Minister said lie considered the request a very reasonable one. It was one that he entirely agreed with (“Hear, hear.”) A vote had already been put on the Estimates for the completion of the engineering surveys, so there was no need to do anything further. No new amount would bo promised this year, and no vote tor construction of the Main Trunk Lma would appear on the Estimates. W nether North or South Island main trunk lines were paying or not did not affect the situation to any extent. Theques- , tion was whether or not tho tune had arrived for the work to be gone on with, and whether practical and sound reasons (national and commercial) could bo presented for tho completion of the line. Everything centred round that. After all, it was a matter of tho place that the work should take m relation to other railway works. It was a matter for judgment as to what works should he prosecuted vigorously and completed. The Marlborough and Canterbury Progress Leagues apparently had satisfied themselves'that tho lino should be completed, but tue Government hnd to prove to tho whole or the people of tho dominion—and not to one particular section —that it should bo completed. Three officers of the department were engaged m endeavoring to got some idea of the commercial value of tho proposal. They all admitted that it would bo desirable to have connection from Picton, but it was a question as to whether it would not be a load on the country when it was completed. “it is going to make other lines pay,” said Mr'Girling. Mr Coates retorted that it was no doubt a very good thing for a member to toll his constituents that the department had worked more or less on flying survey estimates, but they wore roughly accurate. As to the potential vuliic of the country to bo served, ho said bo could not get enthusiastic over some 300,000 acres in the vicinity of ■ the Clarence River, to which reference bad been made. Ho could not see where the population came in. “ Rabbiters, perhaps,” he suggested, amidst laughter. Ho doubted whether that lino would settle a great many more people in the valley, though ho realised that there were oilier good settlement lands on tho route. Ho did not think they would ever ho lands suitable for closer settlement. “the whole point,” ho said, in conclusion, “is whether or not it is a national concern, and whether or not tho time is ripe for the line to ho constructed.