RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13273, 4 September 1906, Page 5

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

STATEMENT BY MR. HALL-

JONES.

( PROBABLE"'POLICY OF THE

FUTURE.

[lit TKT-EORAPK.— SFKCIAL COIIRKSPONT>KNT.]

Wellington, Monday. ; ; A REFERENCE to the subject of railway construction, and the probable policy of the future, was made by Mr. Hall-Jones to-day, in reply to a deputation from Cheviot. He said that when the North Island Main Trunk railway was completed (at the end of 1908) the next main line to be constructed would be that between Blenheim and Christchurch. When that work was completed the two islands would be connected right through by rail, and it would be possible for people to travel by train from Invereargill to Picton, then cross the straits in a half-hour ferry service, and go by train again from Wellington to 100 miles north of Auckland. That was the stage he wished to reach, and he could see it coming in the near future. With that in view, some of the other lines that were now going on could take a rest for a while, so that a little more progress could be mad© with our main lines. That was the policy he would submit, and he believed his colleagues would agree to it. The Minister had previously informed another South Island deputation that the Government had no intention of starting new undertakings, except under exceptional circumstances, until the lines now in progress were completed. . In speaking to the Minister for Public Works subsequent to his reply to the deputation, I asked him if he could give me any indication as to the.particular railway lines which in his opinion might " take a rest."

" You are not the only one who lias asked me that question," Mr. Hall-Jones replied laughingly, " but it is rather too soon for me to say more than I have already said." "What about the North of Auckland line?" I asked. "I hope you don't consider that is in need of a rest?"

"Oh no," was the reassuring reply; "I never had that in my mind at all." The Minister added that from reports and letters lie had received the progress now being made with this line was giving general satisfaction in the district.