THAT UNFAIR DECISION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11403, 2 January 1931, Page 5

THAT UNFAIR DECISION

STOPPING OF LOCAL PAIL WAY

MR. LYSNAR AND ACTIN G - . PRIME'MINISTER

SOME HARD KNOCKS. BY' MEM BER EOR DISTRICT. MR: RANSOM’S CRYPTIC REJOINDER,

“WORK CLOSED DOWN ON AC COUNT OF HOLIDAYS ’•

Some- interesting.; porresponden'ce by wire has lately been, passing "be-tweqri*;-Mr? v Lysriar - arid / the -'-aotiiTgPrime" Minister (Mr. Ransom) in regard tov the. stomwige of , work on the Gi s borne-W aikokopu line.' .‘arid ‘it has heen .hfmded'.toiiliis ;jaiirn^l j4 for ;pul'. r libation.; .•. / . ’• /' y.A

On December 23, Mr. LVsnar wired to/ the actirig-Prime Minister as voider if—► r - •'

“Regret your Government’s decision .to suspend construction of tlie Gishorne-Wa ikokopu fine, which >s coiijtrary to official promises not to : suspend operations until further inquiries were made ; aiid an opportunity given to the district to produce evidence arid which is also against the interests' of the Dominion when the .correct facts a re ; considered r - The earning poorer of the line 'as shewn in D 3 paper is not a , reliable! estimate. ' This was 'admitted in my presence by tlie. officerwho made it,to the Parliamentary Committee and he' added that lie had made the estimate on 'the' basis of the earnings of the Tauranga section which admittedly was not a reasonable basis. The stupendous increased cost to tlie Dominion of motor, transport which has - increased from £3,000,000' m 1014 t0'£32,000,000 .in 1929 as against railway'transport of £4,317,382 in 1914 to £9,180.718 .in; 1929 clearly demonstrates .that it is .essential' iri the Dominion’s interests that’ Gisbodrte-with the largest-fer-tile.: district- .in tlie dominion- unconnected. with: railway should he linked tip Tawa Flats work which isHfrir actual purposes; unremunerative;’. should certainly have been stopped before the Gisborne line, which will lie highly resumerative i especially ask ' before the work is actually ; stopped -.an opportunity, should Le given this ..district to prodube, evidence justifying the line. Much regret that this railway question is. being made a party question.”

Next day, Mr Ransom replied as under—

“Have received your telegram and note your representations regarding the decision of Cabinet to suspend work on the GisborneWaikokopu line.”

On Dec. 27 Mr Lysnnr again, tool the matter up with the. aotiugPrimo Minister as follows:

‘“Your replv received Christmas .Eve to my wire regarding stoppage Gisborno railway is unsatisfactory and evasive. It does not .answer my request- that before work' is actually stopped opportunity should be given this, dist rict to produce evidence justifying the line. The Parliamentary Committee gave me a, written undertaking that the district should he heard before any alteration was made. Tlie Hon. Mr .Taverner later refused to receive'data in supportof the line because the government supportd the construction and before any change of policy was made n.n. opportunity for the taking of .evidence would be given,' In view of the fact that you arc actually calling tenders, to remove plant which ,if carried out will 'further aggravate the position and will amount to( a very serious -wrong riot only to this listj-ict hut to the Dominion as a, whole, and : is quite unjustified does your government still' desire to break the Commt-tce’s and-its own promises and obligations regarding this line without giving any reasons. If finance is the cause au the lines should abate proportionately and the plant -should not be removed. If it is being stopped for poitieal reasons surely you'r government will not weaken its position by being stampeded by 'Reform into doing something that is wrong. How does your government propose to stop the growing loss of over four millions annually for the upkeep of roads for motor transport as shown by last year's official figures? This can only be .stopped-Wr;/completing;-^thg- maim trunk lines. I agam ask you to reply to the..-request to; hear evidence or. thrit you- and. the Public Works Minister should come rind 'inspect the position . of .matters fidre before .stopping the line. Failing this I; suggest .that you- allow the work to proceed until a, -special- session of Parliament- can -be qaljed (to- consider railway construction and other urgent economic questions.”

Mr Ransom on December 29 wired to Mr. Lvsnar as under: —

‘'Have received your telegram and have noted your further representations in regard to the Gis-borne-Waikokopu railway. Work 'is at present closed down on account of holidays and no action has yet been taken in the direction of calltenders fori the removal of equipment I have .. been advised by the 4 Gisborne Chamber of Commerce that a- deputation will represent the matter to the Government early in the New Pear.”

-On January 1, Mr. Lysnar returned to the subject with the following wire:—- . ' ' .* :

“Referring to your wire of the SQtli glad ,to ( - have.“your assurance that'the- work is only closed down on account, of the holidays and that nothing.is being regard to the removal of plant. Apparently' somebodv in authority has advertised r calling tenders- for die removal of the plant, see Gisborne Times December 22. I would ask you to see. that nothing is done in stopping "Work or in reniovuior plant in the meantime. I will ■attend _with the deputation on the 7tli and refuse to’ believe .that ypiir .Government, will disregard the written •assurances gi veil -by and on..behalf of the Parliamentary; .Committee apart from the assurances given by members of your Government regarding the continuation of the Brie”.

CABINET’S ADVERSE DECISION

DEPUTATION TO. GO TO WEL•rV.V.S LINGTON 1

PUBLIC MEETING ON MONDAY

A special meeting of the Gisborne railway committee was held on Wednesday.-: afterrioon to discuss the latest developments .in connection v witn the stoppage of work oii theCisbomeWairoa line. The main business was tb consider the offer made by the acting Prime Minister tot hear' aMocaj deputation' ip Wellington-' at_‘ 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday;' Jaiiiiaryv.; ,-v , Members. were emphatic that ■ no. stone should be left unturned in the attempt: to secure a ireyersakpi,ht|ic Government’s fastciindirig, decision to blgse.down'-the contsruetion/ ‘ aud it was resolvbdv vtriat ‘-‘the -following , should,’ form the deputation to visit Mayor,,%?!>.,jAVd Cbleinan, Messrs. Chas,__Mgt^ews;; "at •: foot of next; column.)