SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 June 1930, Page 4

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK

MR COATES’S ATTITUDE

EXPLANATION BY MR COATES

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

BLENHEIM, This Day; Speaking at Christchurch a few days ago, the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland), .in referring to railway construction matters, stated that during the last election campaign, when there was a danger of. Reform losing the Wairau seat, Mr W. J. Girling, then member for th# district,: announced that he had the. authority of the then Prime Minister (Mr Coates) to say that the South Island Main Trunk railway would be completed; but Reform lost the seat and then opposed the completion of the line. This statement was referred to Mr Girling, who said that at no time during the last election campaign did he secure a message from Mr Coates that lie would complete the South Island Main Trunk Railway, nor did he make such a statement during the campaign. The reference in Mr Girling’s address to Mr Coates’s attitude toward the railway was, he said, to the effect that when Mr Cortes was speaking in the House on railway construction he (Mr Girling) had interjected and asked the then Prime .Minister: “What about the South Island Main Trunk Line?”

Mr Coates replied that after the completion of the Westport-Inangahua line lie would turn his attention to the South Island Main Trunk. “Quite a number of members of Parliament,” said Mr Girling, “have made statements similar to that now made by the Leader of the 1 Labour Party, and in justice to Air Coates I feel "it my duty to make the position clear.” Mr Girling concluded by expressing satisfaction that in spite of the opposition of Mr Coates in the House and elsewhere the line was being pushed on to a successful conclusion, ana said that with tho rest of the people of Marlborough he was looking forward to. the day when the official opening would take place.