RAILWAY STOPPAGE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 6

RAILWAY STOPPAGE

MIDLAND LINE WORK

further protests voiced

COUNTY AND CITY COUNCILS.

(By Telegraph—Tress Association.) NELSON, Jan. 9

The Waimea 'County Council and the Nelson City Council have entered the strongest protests against the cessation of work on the Midland line. The county council chairman, Mr O. Corder, said it was astounding that a 'Government put into power on its railway policy could stop such a work and take away monev already granted for it. The Mayor of the city council, Mr W. J. Moffatt, said .Sir Joseph Ward had given an assurance that the railway line would be taken to Murchison in three years. The £1>20,000, put aside for work this year should be spent. It came as a blow and a surprise, he continued, to find the work stopped when Nelson was given to understand a vigorous railway policy would be followed by the Government.

“What are we to do with the 300 men put out of work by the stoppage?” Councillor S. A. Gibbs asked. “We have to find work for those men.” He considered that, if the funds of the Government were not enough to continue work on the railway then the Unemployment Board funds should supplement the work. The poll tax had to be used somewhere, he said, and it would not be used better than in a national work like the trunk railway. The Government was disturbing men from good work in order to pay them sustenance. The Mayor: “I suppose I will get into trouble if I mention the £70,000,000 of the United Party's Government which has not yet completed its borrow scheme. ” He considered the. £70,000,000 had been a lure, which had gained a number of northern seats for the Government.

Councillor Huggins: “That £7O, 000,000 was only a figure of speech.