THE MIDLAND RAILWAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 February 1931, Page 8

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY

(To the Editor) Sir,—Some time ago when the then Acting Prime Minister (Air Bansom) tiling his bombshell on Nelson and, inspired by Hie seven points of fusion with Mr Coates, created consternation in our railway camps by sacking without warning the 300 men then working mi our line, the member for Nelson was promptly appealed to. and asked to see what could he done. He adopted an attitude of silence, oven refusing to meet, our leading citizens, but later did so , only to put the pot on to their intentions and elforis to hold a public indignation meeting to enter Nelson’s protest, as such a course might embarrass our member with his colleagues in the Cabinet. Leading citizens agreed to deprive Nelson of its chance of making a public protest., against this betrayal of its hopes and the promised early completion of its railway. They wore satisfied with the assurance of Nelson’s member, that lie would make a statement on the question at an early dale, and would press Ncdson’s case on the attention of his colleagues.

But the silence of Nelson’s member is still maintained, and is being submitted to like silence.

What has become of the proposed monster deputation to see Prime Minister Forbes, to lay Nelson’s ease for immediate resumption of work on our railway? This this too been stopped lest it should embarrass someone or annoy political pledge breakers. Is it not time Nelson ascertained whether its member is representative of his constituents ?

The fact that the East Coast political railway is to he proceeded with at a greater pace than during the past two years, might reasonably have been expected to rouse the member for Nelson to protest, in view of the withering scorn he poured forth upon it three short years ago. as ail impractical scheme, that had no chance of materialising. With tin- army of unemployed now numbering over 17,000 in this country growing apace, and the prospect of the numbers being doubled with the end of seasonal occupations and winter in sight, there is no possible excuse for drifting and dropping Nelson’s claims, and the agitation for resumption of work on the short gaji in the Nelson-West Coast railway. Apart from the indisputable claims of this work as being one of the utmost national importance ami urgency from a land, timber, coal, iron, cement, marble and a .score of other mineral resources developmental aspect, it is imperative. that the building of our line should be proceeded with in order to provide work of a reproductive kind for at least a couple of thousand of the unemployed. If the member for Nelson will not move publicly in this matter then his constituents, of all parties, should use every means of pressure and influence to impress the urgency of this matter, upon the Prime Minister and Parliament in the coming early session. There is ample money available either in Ibis country, or <ui the London money market where New Zealand’s credit is so admittedly high, that the Prime Minister should not lie allowed to break his and his government’s solemn pledges to us, under the