MONSTER RAILWAY DEPUTATION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11590, 17 July 1900, Page 3

MONSTER RAILWAY DEPUTATION.

COMPLETION OF CENTBAL LINE ÜBGED. CAUTIOUS BEPLIES BY MINISTEES. PBEMIEB DEPEECATBS BOOM. [bt telegraph.] I Wbliinotou, Monday. A deputation, numbering about 160, representing the whole of the North Island, introduced by Mr Aitken, Mayor of Wellington, under the auspioes of the North Island Main Trunk Central Railway League, waited upon the Premier and the Hons. Hall-Jones and Ward this afternoon^ to urge more expedition in the construction of the railway. Mr D. Nathan urged the claims of the North Island, contending that a breach of faith had been committed in the delay which had taken place in prosecuting the line, and in diverting to other purposes the one million earmarked at initiation for the purpose. He quoted from returns, showing the resources of the districts whioh the railway would tap, which would amply repay the cost, and also quoted from the speeohes of Ministers from time to time, as to urging the work and its claims to construction. Party feeling should not come into consideration in suoh a matter, but no doubt the delay was due in great measure to the neglect by former representatives. He contended that it would have been a wiser thing if instead of making a concession of .£75,000 in railway fares that sum should have been applied to the payment of interest on a loan to complete the linos. Mr Hooper, Trades and Labor Council representative, urged the necessity of the country being opened up to provide greater scope for the .employment of labor, otherwise the unemployed beoame augmented. He also urged that the betterment principle should be adopted in connection with the land through which the line would run. Mr Hadyn, Mayor of Palmeraton North, failed to know a Bingle reason why the line should not be completed early. The timber resources of the country were alone sufficient to repay the cost. He also put in' a plea for the purchase of the Manawatu line by the Government. Mr C. Carr, a member of the Feilding Borough Counoil, pointed to the Manawttu line as creating one of the finest and wealthiest districts, and thought a similar result would follow railway extension between Wellington and Auckland. Mr D. Fraeer, Eangitikei, felt certain that the line would pay a fair rate of interest on the amount necessary to be borrowed for the purpose. The Hon. J. G. Ward B&id all were united as to the desirability of completing the North Island Main Trunk line, but it was a question of finance. As to the principle that the surplu3 should be devoted to that line, instead of making concessions on fares, he did not approve, on the ground that they should not take mora from the people than necessary. He should like to see the Manawatu line acquired, but they could not do everything at once. He believed in a prudent and progressive policy of railway construction, but declined to accept the line on the terms offered. The Hon. Hall-Jones said the construction of the line was a mere matter of finance, and were he given ths necessary funds he would show what ho could do. At present 562 men. were at work on the line of railway. The expenditure and roading in the North Island for the last three years waa very much greater than in the South, whioh was hia reply to the statements that the North. Island had been neglected, or that the main trunk line was not paid due attention outside the distance completed, and under way. About 105 miles remained to be constructed, whioh would cost about £1,100,000. Mr Seddon expressed great pleasure in meeting suoh a large deputation on a subject of so great importance. The Government must not consider any special line, but the whole national interests of the colony alike. He defended the action of the Atkinson Government in spending a quarter million of the million loan upon the purchase of land for the construction of the railway, and contended that suoh a principle should apply to the construction of all lines. If they brought too much pressure on the Government it would play too muoh into the hands of speculators, who were already endeavoring to get possession of magnificent totara forests by rushing the construction of the line. As some people desired, much of the work connected with the making of bridges would have to be sent outside the colony, and otherwise the cost would be greatly increased. It was the settled policy of the country that only moderate sums should be borrowed. The opponents of the Government had urged a loan of .£3,000,000, but as far as he was concerned ho would not agree to such a proposal. Borrowing largely meant boom, and boom meant bust, and he was not going in for any such policy: Better wait for a year or two in the construction of the line, make roads, and settle people on the line. He would take the necessary authority this year for pushing on the line, and in 18 months have it completed as far as Kawakawa. He admitted the work was a national one, and it must be pushed on as settlement progressed. With regard to the purchase of the Manawatu line, he was in accord with the views of Mr Ward, and would say at once that he would be no party to force the shareholders to part with their property. If thte Government purchased the line it would mean adding to the debt .£750,000, of which about .£250,000 in cash would be required. To sum up, the Government intended to increase the expenditure on the North Island raftway consistent with a national system. In reply to a question, the Premier said he was quite willing to give the Company security of tenure in order to warrant them carrying out improvements on the line. Mr Aitken returned thanks for the courteous reception of the deputation and the assurances of Ministers.