EAST COAST LINE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 81, 17 March 1934, Page 8

EAST COAST LINE

DEPUTATION’S PLEA Special Report on Data BOARD TO CONSIDER PROJECT (By Telegraph—Special to “Tribune.'’; WELLINGTON, March 16 Arguments in favour of the completion of the Hast Coast Railway line from Napier to Gisborne, on which construction was stopped in 1931, were placed before members of the Government by a deputation from Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay which waited upon them this morning. .Reports prepared by the local committees which have Investigated the project were supplied to Ministers, these reports showing the estimated cost of completion, maintenance and working expenditure that would be involved and the potential revenue and earning capacity of the line. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon, G. W. Forbes, who administers the railways portfolio, promised to place the reports before the Government Railways Board and to ask for a special report on the data submitted by the deputation. The Ministers present, in addition to the Prime Minister, were the Minister of Finance, the Ht. Hon. J. G. Coates, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. R. Masters, and the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J Bitehener. The Engineer-in-Chief of the Public AVorks Department, Mr C. J McKenzie, was also present. Mr H. M. Campbell, M.P. for Hawke’s Bay, said that there had been a good deal of opinion along the East Coast in connec tlon with the stoppage of the railway. Two committees had been set up, one to work <,ut the costing and possible re turns from Napier to Waikokopu, and the other to do the same from Waikokopu to Gisborne. The southern coni mittee had arrived at tho opinion that tho proposition was a sound one. The Mayor of Wairoa and chairman of the joint committee, Mr H, L. Har ker, said that the committees wanted to place all their cards on the table, and proposed to present the reports they had prepared dealing with all phases o< the project. It was felt that the com plction of the railway would increase the value of tho land through which it was to pass and of which the Govern tnent itself was a very large owner. DE I’A R I'M ENT A L IN VEST IG AT I ON. Tho deputation proposed to ask the Government to allow its officers to go into these reports and state where they were wrong if it were considered that the information in the reports was at fault. Then the deputation would ap preeiate a further opportunity to dis cuss these particular points on which there was a difference of opinion between the authorities and the commit tees. The deputation felt that when those reports were dissected by the departmental officers it would be found that the proposition was a sound one In his opinion the deputation had such a strong case that it would be extremely difficult for the Government to resist it. After reading a resolution carried by the joint committee advocating the completion of the line from Napier to Waikokopu, the Mayor of Napier and chairman of the southern committee Mr C. 0. Morse, said that they in the southern end of the district could hardly realise why such a large sheep growing area as Poverty Bay should be left without railway facilities. Ho believed that through the completion of the first section to Waikokopu the Government would see its way to finish the northern section. ADVANTAGE TO WHOLE SYSTEM. If the railway were completed and past expenditures written off, it was going to be a grout advantage to the railways system of New Zealand. If it wore not completed, tho capital already sunk f n the line would have to be scrapped. “At least 10 per cent of the flock? of New Zealand are pastured in tue area the railway would serve,” dealer cd tho Mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A Maddison. He urged the Govermneni to allow its departmental officers ;.o confer with the committees. The Crown owned more than half of the land be tween Waikokopu and Napier, and tin deputation considered that the project could be made payable from the rail way point of view. Owing to the eon ditions tinder which stock was trans ported at (he present time, farmers were losing as much as 5/- a head on sheep. The loss on stock averaged 2 per cent by death, and from 20 to per cent of the sheep moved were bruised and injured to an extent thnl they became second grade lamb or mul ton. The matter was one of nation;'' importance. Mr Campbell suggested that «!■• Prime Minister make it his business visit the district, and he could th'*’ see the position for himself and dra his own conclusions. The speakers on behalf of the north ern committee wore introduced bv I). W Coleman, M.P. for Gisborne, th said that the northern committee fell that it had a case that was perhaps even stronger than that put; forward by the representatives of ths southern sec-

I tion. So far as Gisborne was concerned the people there felt that they were completely isolated. “Money has been spent and whether a train passes over I the line or not, interest and sinking fund have to be met,” said Mr Coleman. “What has to be taken into account. is whether it is worth while to spend another £150,000 to complete the line.” The Mayor of Gisborne and chairman of the Gisborne committee, Mr John ■Jackson, said that, the deputation realised that when the railway was stopped drastic economies had to be effected. The time had come when it appeared as if there were a turn in the tide, and with that turn the depute tion hoped that the Government would be able to finance the completion of the proposition. After those interested in the line had spent considerable money of their own to finance the preparation of the reports they were satisfied that it could be made a payable proposition. ERRONEOUS DEDUCTIONS. Mr Lissant Clayton, of Gisborne, contended that the decision of the Government Railways Board not to complete the construction of the line was based on erroneous deductions. One thing the board did was to make a comparison with the Taneatua line as a case of a non-paying proposition, but that line only served 408,000 productive acres. On no grounds whatever was it fair 1 or reasonable to adopt the returns from the Taneatua line as a standard of comparison upon which to base prospective results likely to accrue from the operation of the Gia borne-Napier railway. The Taneatua line had been compared with a district such as theirs with 2,000,000 acres of ihe most fertile land in the Dominion. Mr Clayton went on to say that the line had revenue potentialities that were well worthy of consideration. The parallel road factor was eliminated in the case of the East Coast because people would use the railway if it were available, not only because of the expense of motoring but by reason of its hazardous nature with steep hills •.nd inclines and turns on the road. People would not use the road if it could be avoided. Further, the district presented unlimited opportunities of -loser settlement. ECONOMIC WASTAGE. Mr K. S. Williams, M.P., said that the economic wastage of stock moved under the present conditions was 2/6 on sheep and 5/- to 10/- a head on cattle. It took from five to sis weeks to bring cattle back to condition. Mr Campbell: My experience is that it takes longer. Mr Williams said that completion of the line would mean a great access of wealth to the district. That wealth would be taxable and indirect returns to the coffers of the State could not be ignored. Completion of the lino offered the only possible chance of retrieving some of the capital lost and of trans forming hideous failure into comparative success. Mr Williams suggested that with his practical farming mind, Mr Forbes should visit the district in company with Mr Masters, and with the latter’s practical commercial experience they could then form their own judgment. Replying, Mr Forbes said that the decision tn respect to the closing of the line was not the decision of the Government, but was come to as a result of legislation passed by Parliament following the report from the Government Railways Board. Before the line could be reopened it was pro vided that there had to bo a report from the board and a resolution of both Houses of Parliament. INITIATIVE FROM BOARD.

In passing the legislation the Government had been influenced by the fact that the railways were losing a great deal of money, as much as £2,000,000 a year, and it was felt that the taxpayers would resent such a huge loss. The initiative in regard to the starting or stopping of any railway project had to come from the Railway? Board, and be suggeste’’ that the deputation should place its case before the board. He would be prepared to ask the board to consider the matter and prepare a special report on the Napier-Gisborno line. Ho would be pleased to arrange for members of the deputation to meet the board if that was considered necessary. The Prime Minister said that it had not been the wish of the Government to close down the railway works; in fact, the deci sion of the board had come at a very bad time as the Government had had to find other work for the men who were displaced. He knew the wonder ful potentialtiee of the Gisborne dis trict, and if he could spare the time—there were many importan matters en gaging the attention of the Govern meat at the moment —ho would visit 'he district.