SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS

Evening Star, Issue 20917, 7 October 1931, Page 8

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS

BIG MARLBOROUGH DEPUTATION " S.I.M.T. MUST LIVE " [From Oue I’auliamcntahv Hepoeteh.] WELLINGTON, October 7. Tho effort to impress on Parliament by a mass demonstration favouring the completion of tho South Island Mam Trunk railway was a great success as a spectacle, though the actual result on the members remained to bo demonstrated when tlie House later in tho day dealt with tho Government’s f resolution that the work bo stopped. J.lie largest room in Parliament Buildings was unable to contain the 500 Marlborough citizens who made a special trip to Wellington. Some had risen at 1 o’clock this morning to catch tlie train. They fortunately had a good sea trip. . „ Prior to their arrival a small Westport delegation placed before the members tho claims of tho Westport-Inan-gah.ua line, Mr Holland (Buller) presiding over an attendance of about sovciity legislators. The Westport deputation worked on the time limit, and in the midst of its speeches the Marlborough procession, with skirling bagpipes, arrived. Mr Healy, tho member for Wairau, marching at its head with a drum major. Tho whole audience rushed to the windows to see the spectacle as many Marlborough demonstrators as possible crowded into tho room. All wore badges; ‘‘S.I.M.T. Must Live.” . Marlborough's chance came pist before noon when Mr Holland vacated tho chair for Mr Healy, who was loudly cheered by his deputation. He declared it a proud moment of Ins Inc. Ho had not been playing a love trumpet in Parliament over the South Island Alain Trunk. A Member; You have been the whole hand. , , , , Air Healy retorted that ho fiad behind him 18,000 people, and that splendid deputation gave him ample assurance that there was something to fight for in countering tho whim of a railway board of only six' people. Friendly laughter greeted his declaration that Alarlborough would prefer a parliament of its own if New Zealand could not teat it hotter. He predicted tliat there would be loud explosives m Parliament that night.