SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY

Evening Star, Issue 20255, 16 August 1929, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY

IMPOSSIBLE ELECTION PLEDGE ADVICE FROM MR POLSOH [From Our Rarlumexxaet Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August, The national and local body debt ing reached what he termed the “ enormous and staggering ” total oi millions, Mr Poison (Stratford) expressed strong opposition in the House to-night to the Government’s propo'sal to add a further live millions to the Public. Debt on account of the South Island Main Trunk completion,' He knew the route, amd knew it would not pay for generations to come. It was bad business. He would not support it, and he was sorry to see it loom so large in the Budget. In any case this was not reproductive borrowing, and ho could not understated Sir Joseph Ward’s anxiety to keep his election pledge in that direction. There was another promise to lend money at 4$ per cent., and quite enough had been heard about it during the 'debate. However, most members wore not unreasonable enough to expect Sir Joseph Ward, under present conditions, to redeem that promise instantly, and he could not understand why so much was made of the South Island Railway pledge. Ho had been amused at the reason given by the Minister of Lands for supporting the South Island Trunk line, and that he favoured it twenty years ago. However, added Mr Poison, a previous generation favoured bullock wagons, but conditions had changed enormously in twenty years, and the Government itself admitted the precarious position of the railways by its proposal to have the whole question of transport investigated.