CIVIC RECEPTION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 April 1930, Page 3

CIVIC RECEPTION

TO HON. W. B. TAVERNER

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY The Don. W. P>. Taverner, Minister of Railways and Commissioner of State Forests, was accorded a civic reception at the Municipal Buildings at 2.15 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The Mayor, Mr W. J. Moffatt, in welcoming the Minister and his wife to Nelson, said he recognised the importance of Mr Taverner's portfolio, lie referred to Nelson isolation and said tho peoplo of this end of the island were looking forward to the time when Nelson would be linked with the rest of the South Island by rail. Any Minister of the Crown was looked on as a giver of some good. It was through him or by him and his department that progress was made. In referring to Nelson's railway Mr Moffatt said that Nelson was supporting the present Government on account ol its railway policy. He thought Nelsonians had put personal polities in the box for a while. He went on to speak of the growing iron industry at Onekaka, which although run by private enterprise, was a national industry. At present the works were making pig iron and cast iron pipes, and if the industry received the support it should from the Government and people of New Zealand, it was safe to say if would grow to ten times its present extent in a short time. He thonght the slogan "New Zealanders use New Zealand goods" should apply in respect to Onakaka iron.

it had been said that "make haste slowly" was a good maxim, but that Would not be endorsed by Nelsonians in respect to the Midland "railway. He hoped the Minister would accelerate the work if possible. Mr Moffatt concluded by saying he thought at present there was a'feeling in Nelson that they would not like to embarrass the Government by asking for more while so much was being done for the district. Councillor R. Watson, the deputy Mayor, endorsed the Mayor's remarks. He said it was a long time since Nelson had a visit from a sympathetic Minister of Railways; and went on to outline some of the possibilities of the district. "The railway for many years has been running to nowhere", be said ; "but now all are looking forward to the completion of the section to the Coast. Some people have been watching the progress of the lino for about 50 years, and some are still optimistic enough to think that they will have a ride by train from Nelson to the other part of the South Island."

Mr A. Gould, president of the Nelson Provincial Progress League, said that at all times Nelsonians were pleased to see a Minister of the Crown, and at present particularly to see the Minister of Railways. The railway was a subject that the Progress League had concentrated on for years. The League was not asking the Minister to receive a. deputation as they realised that at present Nelson was 'being treated liberally by the Government. The Prime Minister had promised the railway as far as Murchison in four years, but owing to the earthquake the work had been' slowed down. Mr Gould said that when the line was completed it would be possible for boats to come to Nelson, coal, and return to Wellington in the same time as it would take to go from Wellington to the Coast. The matter of back carriage of trucks could be made use of, at least for one part of tho year, in taking Nelson's surplus fruit to South Island markets. At present there were 30,000 people in the northern part of the Island who were deprived of the privileges extended to other parts of New Zealand by railwav service. Mr J. Corder, chairman of the Waimea County Council; Mr 11. W. Kelly, Mavor of 'Richmond; Mr S. P. Clay, Mayor of Motueka; and the Hon. W. W, Snodgrass, M.L.C., also welcomed the Minister.

THE MINISTER REPLIES The Hon. W. B. Taverner said he appreciated the welcome he had been given. On bis present visit be was accompanied by the Director of Forestry and a staff of'3o. He did not suppose any Minister had ever come to Nelson before with such a staff. He had listened with great interest to previous speakers' comments on the railway. He recognised that Nelsonians were in various political camps. The only political party worth supporting was one which based its policy on sound business principles. No Government could exist for long if its principles were not sound. He explained that the construction of railways was under the control of the Public Works Minister; lie did not "come into the picture" until they were handed over to the Railwav Department. He wished people to realise the importance of the, railways and give them their support. He said at the present time a public was growing up that did not think of the railways. He realised the comfort of motor travel, but everyone realised the importance of the railways. If they were stopped for a fortnight, what would happen in New Zealand—motors could not do the work. The railways were run at a loss, as in most countries. The loss this vear would be about £1,000,000, said the Minister, but the roadusers bad to pay for the loss on the railway—that was a point they did not realise.

The Minister remarked it was the intention of the Government to push on with the Midland line, but the speed of construction was controlled by the amount of money available. The Government realised that the sooner it was completed the sooner some revenue would be obtained from it. Later bo was scheduled to open the ninth conference of the Forestery Department, the activities of which be considered of groat importance. The Department was looking into the future in its afforestation work.

In conclusion the -Minister said that once every three years was often enough to' separate the community into its political sections. The Mayor: "We doift want an election."

"Let us get/ on with the job," said the Minister, "and if we don't satisfy yon. then replace us." The function then terminated.