“A BIG JOKE”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 28 November 1930, Page 9

“A BIG JOKE”

BUT A COSTLY ONE S.I. MAIN TRUNK LINE AUCKLANDER’S SCATHING COMMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Nov. 2S. Strong criticism of the Government policy in continuing the construction of the South Island main trunk was voiced by Air. N. G. Dribble, secretary of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League on returning from an inspection, including! the routefrom Whafehui southwards. He described the policy .as, the consistency of fools. The people who were supposed to be wanting the line knew perfectly well that the proposition was unsound. They awoke each morning pleasantly surprised to find the work unstopped. Some settlers he met regard the whole thing as a big joke. _ xl His observations showed that a considerable portion of the country was of the poorest possible quality. For many miles the railway track was (aid on sandhills on which Marram grass had been planted to prevent the track from being obliterated Many culverts put in had already sdted. He doubted whether even as much as ten per cent, of the country to be served would yield any revenue to the railway. If the people of New Zealand could ■only visit the locality they would immediately demand the cessation of the work.