ANXIOUS TO BEGIN

Evening Star, Issue 20040, 4 December 1928, Page 6

ANXIOUS TO BEGIN

sir Joseph mms intention SHORT DATE DEBENTURES FOR RAILWAY PROGRAMME [From Our Paeuamektaut Reporter.] WELLINGTON, December 4. Tho statement has been freely circulated that Sir Joseph Ward intends to introduce a preferential voting Bill this session, anticipating support from the Labour Party. It is very unlikely that there will be any legislation of tho kind, and in buy case Labour will emphatically oppose the preferential system. Mr M'Combs stated thatl the party would stonewall for a week if necessary to prevent the passage of the Bill. His party stands lor proportional representation, and nothing else. What Sir Joseph Ward may do is seek authority to borrow on short-dated debentures in anticipation of his main scheme, with the intention of starting work on tho Slain Trunk railways with a minimum of delay. He is anxious to do what is possible to bring unemployment to a full stop, and will put further railway works in hand immediately. This would involve strengthening the engineering staff of the Public Works Department, and completing surveys not yet made in detail. He makes ho secret of his anxiety to get ahead with this scheme, so that unemployment may_ bo reduced to a minimum before winter. It is expected that he will make a Statement on this subject when he meets the House after the formation of his Ministry. The subject is of special interest to Canterbury and Marlborough, because tho trunk line to Blenheim is one of the first works in scheme. Other lines specially men-

tioned are tho Napier-Gisborne line, which Sir Joseph Ward, prior to the election, declared should bo completed within four years; Stratford-Ongarueto be complete in two years; while the South Island Main Trunk will be completed within three years. He indicated that tho work would be done by oontract, and that there are firms prepared to accept Now Zealand bonds in payment. >