THE SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 September 1908, Page 3

THE SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY.

ITS COMPLETION URGED. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S REPLY. £Unlisd Pbess Association.] WELLINGTON, Monday. J A large deputation, numbering from 30 to 40, representing every local body between Picton and Can- .' terbury, and including several Can- ■ terbury Ms.P., waited on the Premier to urge the completion of the South Island Main Trunk line. A ] large number of those present spoke, ( urging that now that the North Island Trunk line has been completed, the Government should put a large vote, say £200,000 a year for ] five years, on the Estimates to push on the line. Sir J. G. Ward, in reply, admitted '-. the influential nature of the deputation; but held out no hopes that such an amount as mentioned could be devoted to this work. The votes were ' ( already allocated for a year, and he recommended them to await tho Public Works Statement. The demand .. for railways at this moment amounted to £12,000,000, which was quite out of the question. There were 17 or 18 lines still to be completed, and they must have first consideration. The whole country could not be kept waiting for tho completion of one big line. When the smaller lines . were out of tho way there would be more money available for this line. i '