THE SOUTHERN TRUNK.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 127, 30 May 1908, Page 8

THE SOUTHERN TRUNK.

SUPPORTED BY CANTERBURY

.... FARMERS' UNION

AN INTERESTING" DEBATE

[fkom ottb, ccmrrespone-bnt.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. The question of supporting other organisations in urging the completion of the South Island Main Trunk Line was introduced to the provincial conference of the Farmers' Union today by Mr Patchett, who moved a remit from the Prebbleton branch. Mr Patchett briefly supported the line, although not advocating any particular route. Mr Lile seconded- the motion pro forma. He did not think, he said, that the conference should advise the Government to go any faster in making railways; it was ridiculous to say, "Go and make railways, but do not borrow money.". The Arthur's Pass tunnel would be a big work for Canterbury, and he would advise the bovcrnment to go as steadily as it could. The Dominion was not prepared to make lines which might or might not Mr Clothier said that he supported tho motion. The line would open up a lot of country, and bring business from Auckland and Wellington. If the North Island Main Trunk Line was essential for the North Island settiers, tho South Island line was essential for the southern settlers. It was useless having good land unless the produce could be got to mother ■ markets. There were 20,000 acres ' producing not half of what it could produce with a railway line through it. The settlers were compelled to fall back on grazing instead of being able • to grow wheat. Mr Evans said that although he " thought the Government was borrowing too much money, he" favoured the remit, since the Government had decided to" take the line by the middle course. There had been a great controversy as to whether the line should go from Culverden to Waiau or along ♦ the coast, but the Government having decided oil the middle course by way of Cheviot, he would support it. He had been decidedly opposed to the West- Coast 'railway, but after the two ends had been made he had no option but to support the tunnel as a means of making the line productive. .He had been opposed to the Cheviot line, but the line ' being now made from both onds, with a lauge area of good land between, they might as well-get' some of the spoils of the money to be borrowed in',,opening up that land. Whatever & '|pw old men might say, .the Government would .complete the '■ line. He thought that the line would cost about £400,000 which would mean a charge of from £15,000 to £18,000. If they did not support the expenditure of the money in,.Canterbury,'; somebody ,else would get it; The more he travelled about the broader his views became, and he felt; that there ■ was a lot of good country between Cheviot a.nd Kaikoura that was going, to carry a"- large population. It would b'i false economy not ,to support it. j 'Ho thought that the'only good line was via Cheviot. ; ■■ Mr Dixon 4»aid that every farmer should support a policy of thrift and ; economy. The West Coast railway Vras not a business . proposal, but a sentimental mania, for it was absurd to talk of bringing coal to Christchurch. If the- Main Trunk Line opened up good country, however, it was a business proposal that should be supported; but the Farmers'. Union should not givd. the Government carte blanche to go on borrowing, and he r would oppose the remit. Mr Jones said that' the line would not mean large extra borrowing, for the money now being expended on the North Island line would be. realised on its completion, and he thought that it should Be diverted to completing the South' Island line of railway between Cheviot and Kaikoura. The mistake of the Government, in his opinion," was that it was going in for too many .little vote-catching lines, and not spending sufficient on. main lines. He was strongly of opinion that when the North Island line, was completed the South- island line should be taken in hand. Mr Dixon.: Give the country, time to breathe! Mr Jones, , continuing, said that there was a big desire for land in Canterbury, and it was the duty of the Government to bring that land within the reach of the people. The Main Trunk Line would result in good colonising and settling work, and the Government would be better employed in putting railways through those parts than in buying up large estates and settling them nearer home. Mr Leadley said that for a small community, hidden away in the uttermost wastes of the Southern Seas, NewZealand was the most heavily taxed and burdened community in the Empire. For tho time it had been in existence the people had achieved marvellous results in the way of colonisation, settlement, public works and the producing of exportable wealth. But he felt rathor serious when he thought of the burdens their children would have to bear; that the whole of this" * burden would have' to come out of the land. Although the possibilities of the „ land were almost limitless, it would impose burdens grievous to be borne. The ■•Government should not be egged on. It had undertaken certain works, which must be carried out to make them profitable, and he would be in favour of borrowing money to complete lines now in course of construction. But he did not think that the Government, should be asked to go in for a large expenditure of borrowed money. TFhe Government liked to make a big show in the centres in magnificent public buildings, and £50,000 had been unnecessarily spent on the Dunedin railway station instead of being applied to the making of backblock roads. The policy of sending out settlers in advance of roads was wrong. Unless cogent reasons were urgecf that the South Island Main Trunk Line was going to pay a good percentage. of the interest on the cost of construction, they must view it seriously. Mr Cooper said that while he was not against the remit, he thought that the Union should not urs;e the Government in the matter, for the railway would be completed in good time. After further discussion the motion was carried.