SOUTH MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 8

SOUTH MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY

A CAUSTIC CRITIC [Pbb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 28. Strong criticism of the Government policv in continui"g the construction cf the South Island Main Trunk was voiced by Mr H. G. Gribble, secretary of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League on returning from an inspection, including the route from Wha-anui southwards. He dedeseribed the policy as the consistency of foils. The p'ople who were supposed to be waiting the line knew perfectly well that the proposition was unsound, and they awoke each morning pleasantly surprised to find the work unstopped. Some settlers he _ met regarded the whole thing as a big joke. His observations showed that a considerable portion of the country was of the poorest possible quality. For niany mnjrs the railway track was laid on sandhills on which Marram grass had been planted to prevent the track from being obliterated. Many of the culverts put in had already silted. He doubted whether even as much as 10 per cent, of the country to be served would yield any revenue to the railway. If the people of New Zealand could only visit the locality they would immediately demand cessation of the work.