NEW RAILWAYS

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6203, 7 October 1921, Page 4

NEW RAILWAYS

MINISTER STATES POLICY. URGENCY AND IMPORTANCE THE CHIEF FACTORS. FIGURES MUST FIRST BE SATISFACTORY. WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. J. G. Coates), when replying to an Otago deputation to-day, made an interesting t statement of the principles that are guiding his decisions in regard to public works. Dealing first with the question of hydro-electric power, he said that he had to consider very carefully what would be the cost to the consumer. The test of the success of any scheme was the cost of the current when the works had been completed. A member of the deputation, continued the Minister, had said that Otago must have its fair share of railway expenditure. He did not subscribe to the fair share principle. Such works must be taken in the order of their urgency and importance. This, unfortunately, had not been done in New Zealand in the past. It was sound policy to hasten the completion of works that would not begin to give a return for the expenditure until they were completed. Lines that were almost at the point of meeting ought to be connected. Mem bers of Parliament were responsible to the whole country, said Mr. Coates, and they must take a wider view than their own districts. If the Government applied itself to the urgent works and endeavoured to complete them, it would be following a sounder policy than if it attempted to please every member of Parliament. He knew that there would be differences of opinion as to the order of importance, but the right policy undoubtedly was to concentrate on certain works 'and finish them. It might be necessary presently, continued the Minister, to curtail exSenditure on a good many works in ew for a little while, except the works required for the unemployed. The Public Works Fund, in its present condition, could not provide for the continuance of works at the present rate. Whether or not the Tund could be supplemented remained to be considered. The deputation had asked regarding the Tuapeka mouth railway. Detailed surveys had been made, and he proposed” now to hand these surveys to the Railways Department, so that it could decide which would be the best running grade. The Public Works Department could not have the same knowledge as the Railway Department regarding haulage costs and other matters that should be considered. Then lie proposed to ask-Cab-inet to agree to some other Department, probably the Department, making an estimate or the quantity of goods and produce likely to be carried over the line. A clear and definite statement could then be made of the earning power of the line. That had never been done before in New Zealand. Lines had been begun in. the past, added the Minister, without inquiry as to whether or "not they would be commercially successful.” He proposed to make the inquiries in connection with all new" lines'. He wanted Cabinet tc have all the date, just as a commercial man would have if he were going in for such an undertaking. It might be said that this was circumlocution, but the gathering of the information would not really take very much time. It was being worked out in the offices now. He hoped to have very much more information than ever before to place before members of Parliament and deputations when they talked about new lines.—Special.