STATEMENT DENIED

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 8 January 1930, Page 5

STATEMENT DENIED

RAILWAY BUILDING

GOVERNMENT POLICY OUTLINED

(By Telegraph— Cress Association./

WELLINGTON, Jian. 7. A denial was made to-day by the Prime Minister of a published statement that “New Zealand is preparing to invest another £15,000,000 in new railways.” “Tins assertion,” said Sir Joseph Ward, “is misleading, iamd is not correct. The Government is not embarking on the construction of any new lines, but is merely hastening the completion of existing trunk lines, which is essential in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. The Government’s policy in respect to transport has already been laid down by me on various -occasions, and may be briefly reiterated here -as follows: — “To complete the trunk lines as the foundation of the system. “Not to construct «*ny more short branch lines where transport needs can be adequately and more economically catered for by other means of transport.

“To investigate the position of the present branch lines with, -a view rto deciding -as to their future working. “To write down the railway capital by an amount contributed thereto from revenue, and to can cell the present subsidy from the Consolidated Fund. “To co-ordinate the railway and motor road construction policies. “To take steps to bring about coordination between road and rail transport- services.” Tn conclusion, Sir Joseph adds that it cannot be gainsaid that the railway niust be the backbone of the Dominion’s transport system, and that the Txflipy announced! above, which the Government is pursuing, willl eventual lv obtain a complete system of unified tram sport based on the correct decree of co-ordination between road and railway.