NELSON RAILWAY EXTENSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 May 1930, Page 9

NELSON RAILWAY EXTENSION

MURCHISON-INANGAHUA JUNC TION END

RESOLUTION BY PROGRESS ir* ;; LEAGUE

' Matters in connection with the extension of the Nelson-West Coast railway extension , were briefly referred to 'at the meeting yesterday afternoon of the Nelson • Provincial Progress League. The president (Mr A. Gould) reported that he had attended the meeting at Brightwater addressed by Mr Poison, M.P., and outlined what had taken place (as reported in the columns of "The Mail") regarding Mr Poison's remarks at Blenheim and in the South on rail way-matters. Mr Gould went on to say that the attitude of Mr Poison so far as the League was concerned was, to say the least, not 1 a- commendable one. At least Mr Poison could have allowed information to be given him about the railway; as he was evidently not aware of the true position. It was for. the League to make a protest or otherwise. Mr W. J. Moffa'tt" considered that the president had- : .dbhe the right thing; in attending the'meeting and endeavouring to question Mr Poison. Mr W;'Lock said no doubt Mr Poison had recognised that he had made a grave mistake in the attitude he had taken, on the- railway and did not want to say'anything further about it. It was resolved that the president's action be endorsed; but it was not considered necessary to take any further action". > ":' ' ' Reference was also made to an article in a Wellington paper to the effect that slips were continually occurring in the Murchison district and that the country was badly shaken, and referring to the railway as a shaky undertaking. The president said he toolc exception to the remark that the country was badly shaken. The Public Works Engineer had definitely stated that the actual disturbance had not been on the side of the Gorge where railway construction was proceeding but on the opposite side. Other members also took exception to the tone of the article. It was resolved to thank Mr G. Black, M.TV, for his action in replying to the article. , ,«•• A newspaper article written by Mr P. J. O'Regan ' describing a visit through the earthquake area was read, in which it was stated that it would be an exaggeration to describe the country as shattered and commending this fact to the critics who were wont to seize on the earthquake as an argument against the prosecution _ of the railway to the Inangahua Junction. It was resolved to thank Mr 0 Regan for his article. On the motion of Mr Moffatt, seconded by Mr Corder, the following resolution was carried: "In view of the promise made by the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward to tiie people of Nelson a year ago, that the NelsonWest Coast railway would be completed within four years, the League while expressing appreciation of the vigorous way the Government has pushed the work on the Nelson end of the line, stronglv urges that work be. started from the Inangahua end in order that there may be a reasonable prospect of the promise given being fulfilled.'