RAILWAY DEVIATION

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1936, Page 10

RAILWAY DEVIATION

USE OF UNEMPLOYMENT FUND. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, October 13. Tn the House of Representatives, Hon. R. Semple moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill, He said it was quite an innocent, little measure. It proposed to do r.omothing that had been talked about for thirty years; the deviation of the railway line to New Plymouth at Turakina, The time had arrived for the Government to make a general survey of the railway and roading system of the Dominion. to find -weak links, and deal with them as speedily as possible. The cost of t-he job was £500,000.

Mr Forbes said the House had been told that the saving in maintenance and running cost would be £4OOO a year, but interest, at three per cent, would be £15,000, so there would be a loss of £lO,OOO a year.

Mr Semple: Half of the money will be found out of the Unemployment Fund. He added that the whole of (he interest burden would nut. be placed on railways and airway. A better service would be provided. The work had to be found for unemployed and if the money was not spent, there, it might be spent, on some less useful work. No additional burden would be placed on the Ra'lways Department as a result, of the deviation. Members of neighbouring electorates had spoken in support of the deviation. Mr Kyle said lie was surprised at members, after the protests that had been made in the past, supporting money from' the unemployed funds being used on capital works. Mr Semple said the Labour Party had never objected to Unemployment Funds being used for the benefit of the nation, or for the purpose for which it was gathered, but did object to subsidising buildings for large insurance companies. He admitted -that, if the unemployment position was not. what it was., this work would never have been tackled. The second reading was carried. The Bill was put through committee without amendment, read a third time ami passed.