SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XLV, Issue 73, 11 September 1925, Page 4

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY.

RECENT DEPUTATION REVIEWED. DISCUSSION BY PROGRESS LEAGUE. MEMBERS ’ PHILOSOPHICAL ATTITUDE. Though some members of the Marlborough Progress League, at last week’s meeting, voiced disappointment in regard to the recent deputation to the I Prime Minister in connection with the I South Island Main Trunk Railway, a ! majority of those present adopted a i philosophical attitude and expressed themselves as being well satisfied, for

a commencement, with the undertaking given by the Minister that the surveys of the proposed line will be completed and that officers of the Department will examine the merits and demerits of the line. The following formal report in connection with the deputation was submitted by Mr W. T. Churchward, chairman of the League’s Railway Committee: — The deputation for the purpose of urging completion of the South Main Trunk Railway was received by the Premier on August 20. The deputation was a very strong one, comprising representatives from Canterbury, Otago West Coast, Marlborough, and one from Wellington. The members of the deputation numbered 50, of which half were from Marlborough. It was pleas-

ing to find that every local body—and most of the leading associations of Marlborough —was represented in this deputation. Among the deputation were several members of Parliament, including our own member, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leader of the Labour Party, and Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P., of Dunedin. Mr Sidey introduced the deputation and the chairman of the Canterbury Progress League opened the case for the South Island 'Main Trunk and was followed by the president and vice-pre-sident of this League, the chairman of of the West Coast branch lof the Canterburv and several members of Parliament/’The Canterbury League requested only an engineering survey ,of the gap, at the present time, and this was supported by other speakers. This League supported this request, but also

asked the Premier to declare the policy I that the South Island Main Trunk Rail- I way should be completed as icarly as ■ practicable. The Prime Minister replied that the request was a reasonable one, ami that a vote was put on the estimates for such survey, but that there would be nothing on the estimates for construction of the line. lie further stated that three officials of the Railway Department have been’detailed ’.o check lh<‘ information collected by the Canterbury and Marlborough Leagues and obtain any further information in relation to the line, and also to inves!--gatc the suggested train ferry. When this had been done, it would be possible for the Government to decide v.hcn it would be ad visible to start the line and the approximate date of completion. will be noted that the Premier agreed to do what was requested, except the Marlborough request to affirm the policy that the line bo completed. The Jal ter request was not denied, but postponed pending investigation by the Railway Department. The Canterbury J league requested only a survey for three reasons viz., (1). That this would necessarily be the first thing done and such a request was practically certain of being granted. (2) For special politic reasons, and (3) Because the South Island members of Parliament would not support anything more. The South Island members of Parliament had a meeting a day or two before the date of the deputation and, we are informe<l, decided unanimously to support the request for a survey, but were adverse to urging more at the present time. This decision, of course, settled the matter, and the Marlborough speakers were unable, in the face of it, to ask for more than they did. WHOSE FAULT ? / In elaboration of his report, Mr Churchward said that many Marlborough people were disappointed at the results achieved by the deputation, but they would see that it was not the fault of the Marlborough representatives on the deputation that the matter was not taken further; nor was it the fault of the Canterbury League, which was whole-heartedly in favour of the line. He put the blame down to the South Island members of Parliament, who were, apparently, unable to pull together except to the extent of asking that the surveys be completed. He remarked that Colonel Mitchell, of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, had taken part in the deputation, but he was very noncommittal, ami favoured the completion of the line only because it was a gap in the national system and because he believed that all railway gaps should be bridged. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr Holland) also favoured the filling of the gap, because it was la gap, but he considered that all other gaps ■should also be filled in. “That sort of thing,’’ commented Mr Churchward, “did not help the deputation, and was only political talk.” He concluded by again referring to the Canterbury League’s whole-hearted support of the scheme, and stated that the southern body could be relied on to leave no stone unturned to keep the matter before the Government. They would make certain that the survey would be carried; out by next session, and by then the Government’s experts would doubtless have their report ready and the time would be ripe to make further representations. The President (Mr R. F. Coulter), adding to the report, said that, like the rest of Marlborough, ho was a little disappointed in regard to the deputation, but the great thing was to secure unanimity and the moral support of a great number of members of Parliament was a big thing, even if it had to be secured by reducing the deputation’s immediate aims. There was more justification, too, for. confining their request to an appeal for the completion of the surveys, for.it had transpired that evcri'bver the ■ tion where the detailed surveys had been comploteil years ago, a lot of revision was necessary, and he did not sec how it would have been possible tc i spend money this year even if it had 1 been voted.’ It was up to the League now to see that the survey was coni, pleted, so that next year they would be able to ask for a definite grant for the i completion of the work. | POLITICAL ACTION SUGGESTED. ; Mr J. E. Bell saiei he also was frank i ly disappointed at the shape which ihc • ieputation had taken, and he thought L there was something in the Leader oi the Opposition’s comments that the

mountain had laboured and brought forth a mouse! He said he understood that the surveys were completed and everything was ready to proceed with work on some 18 or 20 miles of the line as far back as 1911, and he would have .iked to have seen work resumed on this section. However, he quite understood the position in which the Marlborough delegates found themselves. His own view was that if the Hon. Mr Coates’s experts finally produced an adverse report on the line, they should cease the controversy with the Primo ..linister and make the railway a political issue, and, if Canterbury would work with Marlborough on those lines, get Canterbury to come in. “I think,” concluded Mr Bell, “that Mr Girling, M.P., has worked very hard for the line, but 1 am sorry to say that the result docs not appear to have done him much good politically.” Mr H. Rhind imported a new note into the discussion. He said it was somcLhing to get the survey completed, and it was something to have secured from the Prime Minister such an admission of a change of front as was contained in the fact that he had three special officers checking the Marlborough and Canterbury figures regarding the line. ‘Our figures,” he added, “arc on the conservative side, and cannot be dis- , proved, so that 1 think we have a splendid case, which will be strengthened enormously if the report of Mr Coates’s officers is favourable.” Mr R. P. Furness said he was inclined to agree with Mr Rhind that the deputation had achieved something worth while. Some years ago the South Island Main Trunk had disappeared from Government ken, but, it was now, to some ■ -stent, to be rehabilitated, and the Crime Minister had agreed to go on .vitli the surveys, which were a natural preliminary to any work. “At first Idush,” continued Mr Furness, “most people were disappointed, but if we make haste slowly I think we have a better chance than if we take the bull by the horns—especially if it is a bigger bull than we are! ” There were, he proceeded, aspects of the matter to temper disappointment. He added that he thought it was a mistaken policy to invite the West Coast people to take part in the deputation, seeing that naturally 1 hey would prefer to see the Department push on with the West Coast line, and that their support of the East (’oast project, at best, could only be of the “Yes—No” variety. Another aspect of the matter was that a good ; ;any city members of Parliament were Labour members, and one would naturally hardly expect them to act in opposition to their own Leader, who was a West Coast representative, and would prefer to see the Main Trunk go down the West Coast rather than down the last Coast. “Then, again,” he said, • that horrible train ferry was brought into it. I think we should drop that, as it is only offering opponents of the 1-nc an opportunity to draw a red herling across the trail, and give them a ■ banco to poke ridicule at the whole agitation.” SATISFIED WITH RESULTS. Mr Furness concluded by stating that another point about the deputation was that it was a little on the late side. Ii was well known that the Public Works Estimates were made up well in advance of their presentation in the House, and on that account alone Mr Coates would have been justified, if a I- vote for construction had been asked for, in replying that it was too late for this session. “We should be satisfied I v ith what we have got,” he said. “If I the survey and the experts’ report arc '• completed it will not be long before we r t in go back to Mr Coates for a declar- ■ . ion that he will complete the line at (lie earliest possible date.” I Mr A. A. McNab agreed witlj the t views put forward by Messi’s Rhind and I'lirness. He said that the fact that money was being provided for the survey showed that the agitation had borne p'.'od fruit, and that the Government realised that the railway could not be allowed to stay in the background for ever. If the confidence in ti?e reports submitted by the Marlborougn and Canrbury Leagues was justified, the Go•rnment experts’ reports could only back them up, and the League would •hen be in a position to go to the Prime Minister with a request for the completion of the line in, say, five years. Mr G. H. Andrew, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the’‘Railway Committee for its efforts in preparing Marlborough’s case in connection with the railway, and to the delegates who took part in the deputation, especially mentioned the great volume of work done by Mr Churchward and the President (Mr Goulter). He remarked that though they might be disappointed that the lino was not to be immediately prosecuted, they should remember that it was. a big undertaking, and that Rome was not built in a day. The railway project had reached a business stage, when it had to be considered in relation to all the other railway lines and other public works required throughout New Zealand. “You have interested the Prime Minister to such an extent,” he proceeded, “that he is considering the matter, and that is as much as you could hope for in your first year. Tho Prime Minister is a reasonable man, and, if the case is proved, he will go on with the work, but don’t be disappointed if tho I work is not accomplished rapidly. If we get it finished in the’ next fifteen years I shall be satisfied.” Mr W. H. Gane, in seconding tho motion, said he thought the main part of tho work’ had been accomplished, and that in a year or twQ_ they would see something doing. The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. In making his acknowledgments, the President said he would like, on behalf of the League, to express thanks to all parts of the district for the splendid representation of the province on the deputation.—Marlborough Express.