SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

• OFFICIALS’ REPORT STATEMENT BY PREMIER. [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 13. In reply to the Blenheim criticism of the railway report on the South Island Main Trunk line, .the Right Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Railways) says:—“The statement that tho report is stale and valueless because it was prepared on August 4, 1925, is too ridiculous *,o require any lengthy comment. The conditions existing twelve months ago are similar to those existing to-day, and any investigations as teethe economic aspects of the completion of tho South Island Main Trunk Railway which wore correct in 1925 are equally reliable in 1926. Tho figures used in the report, so far as goods and passenger revenue is concerned, were those which wore adopted by tho Canterbury Progress League after investigation into tho project by a special committee set up by that body in May, 1925. This committee toured the Marlborough and Nelson districts in connection with the project. “ There was ample information in tho shape of departmental and statistical returns to enable an accurate forecast to be made that the probable revenue would not bo as large as that forecasted by the Canterbury Progress League; but, in order to present the case on tho revenue side in the best possible light, it was decided to adopt the Progress League’s figures.. With the combined services of Messrs Fay and Casey—the former with experience _ of conditions abroad, and the latter with local knowledge and experience—it was confidently expected' they would make a thorough and impartial investigation of the' project, and tho report which appears in the Railway Statement, and which was thoroughly concurred in by the Railway Board, speaks for itself. “ With regard to tho survey, this has been in band for some months, and the engineer is now working up the information .obtained. ..This only covers portion of the route between a point, north of Parnassus to a point near Knikoura, and from indications already given it would appear that this portion of tho lino is going to bo ranch more costly than was anticipated when tho report was made owing to tho large number of_viaducts that will he necessary. It is thought that in a month or six weeks’ time tho work should he far enough advanced to allow of a rough estimate of the cost of this portion being made.”