RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 592, 9 August 1913, Page 3

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

When the Government took cliice in July, lUI-. new construction work on main unci branch railways was in progress v.c twenty-ona diiferent points, and provision was made on last year's public works estimates for continuing work on practically all these lines. The total expenditure on new construction. apart from additions l-> open iir:.-s. amounted during the year to £GBJ.UUk In August last Messrs McLean and Sons, contractors for the Arthur's Pass Tunnel, between Bealey and Otira. on the Midland Railway, approached Parliament by petition, praying to lie relieved of their contract, ground that they had exhausted their reswe-s and were to carry the work to completion. The petition was considered by a special Committ. e. which recommended that; *-he contractors should be relieved of the contract, as;d that the tunnel should be carried to completion under a fresh contract or by labour employed directly under the Government's own engineers. In pursuance of this recommendation the contract was formally determined on December 23rd. it!]2. and the wort: has since then been continued by the Publie Works Department. It is proposed, however, to invite tenders at an early date for the completion ot the tunnel. In the Public Works Statement of last year it was suggested that wherever branch lines of railway were deemed to be necessary a lighter and cheaper form of construction should be adopted. In pursuance of this view several new branch lines were authorised during last session. As it is impossible for the Dominion to borrow in any one year a cum sufficient to p.o\idc for ail those branch lines as well as for the construction of the main lines, it is the intention of the Government to permit private enterprise to undertake such work, subject to conditions which will carefully safeguard the public interest. Legislation giving effect to this proposal will be introduced this session.