Will Midland Railway Be Completed?

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 11, 14 January 1936, Page 7

Will Midland Railway Be Completed?

Deputations to Minister

FULL INVESTIGATION PROMISED

Per Press Association. NELSON, Last Night

Replying to a Murcliisou deputation to-day regardiug the completion of the Midland line, Hon. K. Semple pointed out that the Government was not responsible for the promises of previous Governments nor for the sins of past Governments. He expected the Government would in time have enough of its own sins to account for. At the present time the question of getting back the control of the railways by the Government instead of by the board was being gone into. The Government would undertake the responsibility for public expenditure and would not delegate that responsibility to anyone, else. In regard to the Midland lino there would be a full investigation into the possibility of completing the full line and of partially completing it as far as Murchison. The investigations would be broken in two parts for that purpose. When the Government completed any lino it would expect that the peoplo -would give 100 per cent, loyalty to the railway. The Government would not interfere with individuals’ rights, but if people asked for a line for access and the work was done the Government would expect them to give support to it instead of to throat-cutting competition. The Government built roads on rail routes and then motor transport commenced. The competition in some cases, was unfair through the wages paid to some of the drivers being a disgrace. ' Sweating and cut-throat competition would not be tolerated. It was the.desire of tho Government to give the people tho best transport and road facilities so that they could get their produce on the markets. A good reading system was one of the best assets a nation could have. The Minister then outlined the expense incurred on the Gisborne line, which had not been completed. Before the Government spent money on a line it would investigate it first to see if it was justified, and then go ahead, and not get it partly done and leave it to rot. The matter would bo considered from a developmental aspect.

If, on consideration of the Midland line, it was considered to be justilied, the Government would go ahead; but if it was decided not to complete it then the peoplo would be told why. The Government would not ask the Railway Board to do its thinking. The people had elected the Government to do its own thinking without consulting any boards. If it was decided to complete the work then a convenient time-table would be arranged so that the people could use it. Any excuses for not using it would be removed beforo it was opened. Replying to the Murchison deputation, Mr Semple said the department would go into the matter of the Lewis Pass road. In regard to road matters there was a board which limited the power of the Government and reconstruction would have to be made. However, when all possible information regarding the proposal had been placed before the department it would be considered. The chairman of the Murchison County Council said in the Murchison County there was a good deal of mining, and ho asked tho Minister if he would outline tho policy of the Government in regard to reef prospecting. Men engaged on reef prospecting wore on tho same subsidy as other prospectors, those in tho latter category being in a better position because they usually found a little gold. lion. I’. C. Webb said his department had nothing to do with the subsidy paid to prospectors, which was handled bv the Unemployment Board. At the present time his department had no money to assist mining, but the Un employment Board had sympathetically assisted in the prospecting of quartz reefs, in some cases it had granted up to full-timo wages for such men if they were practical and qualified, if the peoplo of Murchison had practical men and the inspectors and officers could recommend tho expenditure of money for such prospecting, he felt sure something would be done to assist them. The money should be spent judiciously and profitably. In most cases now it was necessary to hit out with large capita! and with the use of scicntilic methods, lie gave an assurance that the Mines Department would be a real live department which would be ready to assist those who wished to mine, but i: would give the death sentence to those who went into mining as a speculation. The Government would not encourage those who wished to tie up development by holding large unused water rights. In regard to the request made, he advised them to submit their case to the ' Unemployment Board. Where there was a prospect of finding a reef or good alluvial prospects every sympathetic help would be

Three men from the Takaka Hill relief workers’ cu-mp met Mr Semple at Motueka to discuss the general conditions of work in connection with road-widening. In connection wltfl the rates of pay, it was contended that the engineer varied the rate paid on spoil moved without giving notices as provided for in the contract. A good worker was making £6 per week in December. The men were shifting rock, the maximum rate being on the marble while less was paid on loose! material. Cases were quoted whore the price had been reduced for apparently no reason. Further representation was made in connection with accommodation. Some of the private houses rented by the men wero not lit to live in, and they: asked if, better^

accommodation could be provided on the job. The engineer, who was present, slated that the formation of the country varied. For the hardest type 3s a yard was paid and the rate for loose material was correspondingly less. Tho average rates earned by the men were 15s 4d a day iu October, 17s 4d in November, and ISs ail iu December. No contract prices had been cut, but the various types of spoil moved were measured aud paid for accordingly.

The Minister then told the men that there had evidently been a misunderstanding about the contract, and from wlnit the engineer had said there had been no breach. Regarding accommodation, the Government was at present going into the whole question. All men on such works would be properly housed and provision would be made so that it would not be necessary for the men to keep two homes while they were engaged on these works. It was the intention of the Government to abolish relief works and convert them into public works at proper wages. “If a man’s a trier and docs not earn the amount fixed for the wages, he’ll get those wages: but if he’s a scrounger then ho will get the order of the bool,” commented the Minister.

Hearty receptions were accorded Mr Semple and Mr Webb at Motueka and Murchison by very large gatherings.