RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 20686, 8 January 1931, Page 13

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

ABANDONMENT OF GISBORNE LINE PROTEST FROM DISTRICT [Tkk Uhitkd Pesss Association-.J WELLINGTON, January 7. A strong protest against the announcement by the Government that it intended to abandon the construction of tbo railway lino from Gisborne to Wajkokopu was made bv a denotation to-day" to tbe Acting Prime Minister (Mr "Hansom), the Alinistcr of Bailways (Mr Vcitch), and the Minister of Public Works (Mr Taverner). The deputation was headed by Mr W. D. Lysnar, the member for Gisboruo, and .Mr K, S. Williams, the member for Bay of I’lenly. and was representative of all the local bodies and all th political parties in the district. It was alleged that tbe Government’s action was nmvaranted from any angle. Tho lino would develop the tremendous icsources of the district, and 'it was urged that it would be a paying proposition. Air C. Williams, representing the Poverty Bay Sheepowners’ Federation, said the lino would make an enormous difference to industry in the district. There was a difference of between .‘ls and os in tbo price paid for sheep at Gisborne and Hastings, to tbo detriment of Gisborne. The line would mean the development oi 2,000,(J0U acres of land. “What was driving file Government into its action was the outcry from the rest of the dominion, which did not know’ the position. Mr Ransom said ho appreciated tho feelings of the Gisborne people. Some question had arisen concerning the stopping of tho work, hut tho Government’s announcement in the Press was meant to ho a definite statement that four lines would be closed. That was not, however, an intimation to the various staffs, which would not necessarily bo notified that they were to receive notice. At the same time that acounted for the reply lie had sent to Mr Lysnar concerning the dismissals. All the men would bo given a week’s notice. Members of tho deputation stated that although tho men working on tho co-opcrativo system were to receive a week’s notice, those working by rho day would not. Mr Ransom said lie had given instructions that all the men wore to be traded alike, and lie would look into tbo position. It bad been stated that tho men were living on fish during the holidays, but it was hard to accept this statement, and it made one wonder how much reliance could be placed on other statements made by the deputation. The men on the works had been earning an average of 17s per day, and the Government could not ho blamed if they took no care for the future when they were earning good money. The suggestion had been made to pay 10 per" cent., hut if it could be proved that it W’onkl even pay less, tho Government would be Tvarnintcd in going ahead with tho work. There was no reason to’ believe that the railway ‘would eliminate motor traffic, as this had not been tho case in other parts of the country. Ho deeply sympathised witli those who w’cro out of work and those who would bo a fleeted by tho cessation of construction. However, if the Government had waited until no one would lio hurt by taking action i,b ’would then bo too late to prevent further waste. Tt was fully recognised that the line had boon advocated by Ministers, but times had changed greatly, ami they had been forced to change their opinions. The GovenimciiL - decision would have to stand, at least in the meantime. Rerefence to the statement that the men employed by day on tho Waiko-kopu-Gisborno lino bad been disiilissed without a week's notice was made later by Air Hansom, who -said that from information he had received, it appeared that his instructions had been misinterpreted, and that tho day workers had actually been put off without notice. However, definite instructions had been issued Hint these men wore to receive the same notice as those working under tho co-operative systems. This would mean that all workers would he placed on tho same basis, and all would receive, a week’s notice. Mr Ransom also said that it was not tho intention of tho Government to remove the heavy plant from the site. Mention had boon made of tho fact that work had not been abandoned but only suspended, and if it were decided to continue operations in the future, the plant would ho ready mi tho site.