THE MUCH-FAVOURED SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 7

THE MUCH-FAVOURED SOUTH.

VIEWS OF MEMBERS.

AN "EYE-OPENER."

[Nt TZI-EGP.U'n.— CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington*, Tuesday. The disproportionate allocation of the railway vote as between'the two islands, the difference in favour of the South Island being no less than £162,000, has aroused a great deal of adverse comment amongst tho Northern members since the delivery of the Public Works Statement last night. The views of some of the North Island members on the subject were gleaned by the Hfrxld representative, in the course of conversation to-day. Mr. W. T. Jennings, member for Taumaruniii, said that the disparity between tho votes was so grout I hat it spoke for itself, but. it was only in keeping with what he had noticed for the past six or eight months. The reports in the Labour Journal during that time had shown that, there was a much greater number of men employed on Government' railway works in the South than in the North Island, whilst the number of men employed in connection with the Otira tunnel would increase the discrepancy. "All this," ho added, "is the more surprising in view of the tact that the railway mileage in the South Island is already so much in excess of that of the North Island." Mr. Poole said that from a North Island point of view the allocation was very unsatisfactory. The Northern railj ways certainly desevved greater consideration. The Midland railway . was undoubtedly the fly in the ointment, and until this was finished it would be a great drain upon the Public Works Fund. Mr. Greenslade said, that on going through the Estimates he was astonished at the great difference in the votes for tho two islands. From a national, and not by any means a parochial point of view, it was desirable that there should be a larger instead of a smaller expenditure in the North" Island, seeing the large area of land still undeveloped. Mr. Poland said that he regarded the allocation of the railway vote as very unfair to the North Island. Some Northern members who were interviewed stated that they had not yet had time to examine the Statement. When informed of the figures they expressed amazement at such "an cyo-opener." The matter will no doubt be ventilated when | the Statement is discussed in the House. ! This morning's Dominion, in commenting on the matter, nays: "The friends not i merely of this inland, but of' national pruj dence, must enter the very strongest protest j against this pampering of the South at the expense of the island in which the railways pay. It is the expenditure in the South ; that has made the railways system as a I whole a sink for public money."