THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 218, 14 September 1908, Page 8

THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

DEPUTATION Als TD THE PRIME

MINISTER

FURTHER PARTICULARS

[from oitb co-respondent.]

"WELLINGTON, Sept. 14. _ The deputation from .Blenheim, Kaifcoura, Christchurch, Cheviot and other places which interviewed the Prim© Minister and the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones this morning regarding the completion of the railway between Seddon and Domett comprised fifty representative gentlemen, and included also eleven Members of Parliament. Messrs R. F. Goulter _ and H. J. Marriner were the principal speakers, and were followed by eight others. The national aspect of the; question was urged, since the completion of the line would link up the ,whole- railway system of the Dominions. It was also pointed out that- the uncompleted portion of the line must ''pay its way, since the country it went through wassome of the richest in New Zealand, and was only awaiting railway carriage facilities for the development of its resources. The various aspects of the question were well and fully presented by the speakers. The Prime Minister, in replying, said that the Government in its' Public. Works Statement had already decided what ,the allocation for railways this year was to be. He could not at this-stage disclose what was to be spent on the line under review, but the Government had done their best. (Hear, hear). The Government could not," however, expend £200,000 a year, as asked. The Government were just as anxious as the deputation to have the important South Island Main Line of railway completed as scon as possible, but it was a mistake to suppose that one or two lines could be pushed ahead to the exclusion of branch lines in various districts. He hinted that the Waiau bridge had Ibeen provided for. The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones said that there were six lines of railway that would be eomt)]eted_ within twelve months; after that,other lines such as the one,under notice could be prosecuted more speedily. The representations would receive the fullest consideration.

Subsequently Mr Hall-Jones gave a favourable reply to Messrs .Redwood. McCallum and Murray, who asked that- the Government should fence the Tailway alongside \ the road between *Grovetown and Parrish's Creek.