MUST LIVE”

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 October 1931, Page 5

MUST LIVE”

MONSTER DEPUTATION ARRIVES. CARRIED BY SPECIAL STEAMER AND HEADED BY PIPE BAND. APPEAL ON BEHALF OF SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The unusual spectacle of a huge deputation from the Malborough district arriving by special steamer from Pieton, aroused considerable interest in the city this morning. The party left the South Island in the early hours and reached Wellington at 10.45 a.m. Bach member wore a ribbon inscribed, “S.I.M.T. Must Live,” and altogether there were 480 residents of' the Marlborough district who had made the special trip to urge Parliament to continue the construction of the South Island Main Trunk railway. As the deputation lined up on the wharf, it could be seen that there was a sprinkling of all sections of the community, including professional men, business men, farmers and clergymen. The party, which was led by Mr* E. E. Healy, M.P. for Wairau, was headed by a pipe band, and was cheered by spectators as it marched off 'the wharf and proceeded in a most orderly manner through the city streets to Parliament Buildings. WE9TPORT-INANGAHUA LINE. Before the Marlborough deputation stated its case, a deputation of five from the Buller district, waited Upon members of Parliament and stated the ease for the continuation of the West-port-Inangahua line. ■The deputation, which was received by about fifty members, crossed swords with the Government Railways Board, and stated that members of the Board had not devoted sufficient time to the districts or the investigation of the possibilities of the line to enable it to arrive at a well-founded decision. Speakers referred to 'the great potentialities of the Buller district, dwelling particularly on three aspects: coal production, 'timber production, and land settlement. The point was stressed that three distinct political parties had favoured the completion of the line; and it was stated that, if work were stopped now, there would be a tremendous wastage of public money. Another point made was that it was from the uncompleted section of the line that the greatest revenue could be expected. The Westport line was at present the best paying line in the Dominion. NO LOSS IF TRUNK LINE COMPLETED. The Main Trunk deputation was introduced to members of both Houses of Parliament by Mr Healy, M.P., who said that all the people of Marlborough were behind the advocacy of the completion of the line. Mr W. T. Churchward, president of the Marlborough Progress League, said that the (Board had based its findings on fallacies. He contended that, if the line were completed, there would be a .sating to the State, on the reorganisation of the present dead-end services, of £50,000 annually. The resources of Marlborough would be increased to the extent of over half amillion sterling annually, from which he estimated that the State would gain an f additional £104,000 annually in taxation, whereas with work on the line stopped there would be a perpetual loss of £42,000, representing interest on £BOO,OOO already spent on the ■work. There would be no loss ito the State if the line were completed. Other advocates who ,spoke were Mr J. Girling, a member of the Progress League, and two representatives of the wokers on the Wharanui-Parnassas section, wlio spoke of the unemployment that 'the stoppage of work would involve.