THE MIDLAND LINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 November 1937, Page 4

THE MIDLAND LINE

FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS BY MR HOLYOAKE BROADCASTING PRIVILEGES [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, 18th November. In the course of a discussion in the House of Representatives on “Answers to Questions of which Notice had been given,” Mr Holyoake (National, Motueka) said that he was not very satisfied with the reply of the Minister of Public Works to his question as to whether the Government intended to proceed with the construction of the Midland Railway line either to Murchison or to Inangahua Junction. The Minister said that the survey party had not completed its investigations but he understood that the Government had sufficient information at its disposal to come to a decision, in regard to the completion of the line to Murchison. If it was the policy of the Government to spend public money on railway construction works, the people of all districts concerned were entitled to their share of the money without having to wait until election time. He desired to impress upon the Government that if large sums of money were to be expended upon railway construction works, the people were justified in urging the completion of the line in which they were interested. The people in the districts which would be served by the Midland Line had as much claim as those who were resident along the so-called South Island Main Trunk Line. If it were completed, the Midland Line would serve a larger population, and more produce would be available for transport than on the South Island Main Trunk Line. Mr Holyoake said he desired to support the question in which tiie honourable member for Christchurch North had asked the Prime Minister to grant the Leader of the Opposition the' same privileges of broadcasting bulletins as had been granted to the Prime Minister’s Office. That was a perfectly fair question and he was sorry the Prime Minister could not see his way to gi\e favourable consideration to such a simple and just request. The bulletins issued were particularly valuable fiom a Labour Party propaganda point of view, and it was only just, in the interests of 1 adio license holders that they should have the opportunity to hear a review by the Leader of the Opposition on political questions. He hoped the Prime Minister would reconsider the matter and give the Leader of the Opposition on political questions. He hoped the Prime Minister would reconsider the matter and give the Leader of the Opposition the same privilege as he himself enjoyed.