RAILWAY WORKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 November 1924, Page 5

RAILWAY WORKS.

MINISTER'S PROBLEMS. AUCKLAND, Nov. 27. Aucklanders are not backward in urging their railway requirements. Expedition in the carrying out of the city tunnel and northern deviation proposal set out in the Railways Statement, was urged upon the Minister of Railways (Hon. J. G. Coates) this morning by a deputation from the Northern Suburban Railway League. The Minister in reply pointed out that various railway proposals had been submitted to the Commission which was at present taking evidence throughout the Dominion, but it- was for the Commission to say whether it thought the schemes sufficient or too ambitious. An investigation was also being made in the four main centres into the advisability of electrification for certain lines.

“It is entirely a question of relative importance and the amount of money proposed to be spent each year,” continued the Minister. “If we are to exceed the million mark we can do it. It becomes a question of whether it is wise or not, and a million a year is not so bad. Everyone is asking me to shorten the period over which the total sum is to be spent on railways (eight years) to five years. We are going on with the Auckland station and duplication. there is no question about that.” The Minister again stressed that much depended on the Commission's report, due next month, and the investigation into electrification. He also remarked that it was not intended to build nn a big staff for which there would be no future use; instead, the Public Works and railway staffs would have to work in conjunction.