"FILL THE GAP"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 18 November 1926, Page 4

"FILL THE GAP"

NELSON'S GREATEST NEED STRONG REPRESENTATIONS TO MINISTER Among the matters brought under the notice, of the Minister of Public Works '(the-Hon. K. S. Williams) during his brief stay in Nelson yesterday, was the urgent need of speeding up the completion of the railway lino to Murchison. Speakers stressed the importance of "filling tho gr>p," and thus linking up ibis end of the Island with the main i ail way system. * Mr F. G. Gibbs, pres Kent of the Nelst.n Provincial Chamber of Commerce, who introduced the question, stressed tho urgency for pushing on the railway from Kawatiri to Inangahua Junction. The people of Nelson looked upon this matter as tho most important v one affecting the province. He hoped tbe Minister would realise how keenly Nelson felt its isolation and its claim to be connected up with the main railway system of the South Island. Mr Gibbs placed before the Minister a map showing the "gap'' of 50 miles in the railway system; and went on to say that it was only reasonable and common sense to finish a work which was now ho nearly completed. He urged that faster progress b,e made than had been the case in the past. It was the only important railway work in the South Island that required to be brought to '.•ompleiion. Mr Gibbs went on to say that the proposal to fill the gap temporarily by a motor service would help to some extent;hut lie pointed out the difficulties in regard to the carriage of stock and fruit unless through railway communication was established. Ho specially urged upon the Minister that the first section from Kawatiri to Murchison should he pushed on with as expeditiously as possible;—at least com-, pleled within the next year or two. .It was also suggested that the time was ripe for a survey of, the section from lMurchison to Inangahua Junction. He hoped the Minister would during his term of office, carry this work of great national importance; to a conclusion. STRONG SUPPORT Mr W. J. Moffatt, president of the Nelson Provincial Progress League,, in supplementing the remarks of Mr Gibbs, said all the matters to bo brought before the Minister were of great impon tance to the province. He reminded the Minister that the matter of through railway communication had been before the public for the last 60 years. He strongly supported Mr Gibbs's remarks; and trusted that every consideration would be given to the deputation's, request. Mr Moffatt also remarked that two annual conferences of Progress Leagues had endorsed the request to accelerate the rale of progress of the railway to Murchison. He urged the Minister to give, effect to the resolution of the conferences —which was really a federation of dominion local bodies. Mr Moffatt referred to the more rapid progress made, in the construction of railway works in the North Island, and urged that similar treatment be accorded Nelson. Anything the Minister could do in this connection would be" very much appreciated by the whole province. ...;-.. ....

FRUITGROWERS' POINT OF VIEW

Mr Talbot, Mayor of Motueka, speaking from the point of view of the fruitgrowers; asked the Minister if he could give an expression of opinion as to'the future policy of the Government regarding the railway and the linking up the rail heads with a motor lorry service. He stressed the handicap the< district suffered by not having facilities for opening up Southern markets for disposing of Nelson's surplus fruit. This season, for instance, there would be a surplus ol 150 tons of raspberries which the factories could not take. THE MINISTER REPLIES ' » In replying, the Minister said he quile realised the importance to the district of the completion of the line. He understood a survey.of the lower portion (beyond Murchison) was now in hand. He intended to get the Railway Department officials to give him information as to the earning capacity cf the railway when completed. Ho thought there were two points from which one could look at railway construction—the actual and also a certain development advantage whicli could not be estimated in figures but was still there. He assured the deputation that ho would go very carefully into their request, and lie iioped at some future date to inspect the district and so be able to go into the figures supplied by the Railway' Department with personal knowledge.