RIMUTAKA DEVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18641, 23 February 1924, Page 8

RIMUTAKA DEVIATION.

A strange statement is issued from Wellington, described as being published on the authority of Mr. W. H. Field, M.P. It declares that routes are now practically settled for three railway deviations out of Wellington, including the Rimutaka deviation. Just what is intended by making this statement now, it is difficult to say, for from the description, the Rimutaka scheme is exactly that one described and utterly condemnedin last year's Public Works Statement. No doubt some improvements will have to be made in the Main Trunk Line leading out of Wellington. 1 ' That may be admitted without assuming the easy optimism apparently adopted by Mr. Field. It is very different with regard to the Rimutaka scheme. Mr. Furkert's report in the Statement showed that the route called for a tunnel 5 miles 18 chains in length, the cost of the whole project being given as £973,000. It would save some 40 minutes on the journey to Masterton, but would be no benefit to any station north of Woodville, because the journey via Palmerston North would still be the shorter way round. The saving in freight to consignors would be about £11,000 or £12,000 a year, which the Railway Department would lose. The saving in haulage costs would be about £33,500 a year, and the interest charges between £40,000 and £45,000 a year. Therefore the department would face a debit balance of £23,500 a year on the scheme. Can the Wellington and Wairarapa people promise an increase in traffic to make this good? The line does not promise any new development, since it would merely replace a piece of line already serving the district. It is surely time to cease talking of such projects when there are great developmental works in additions to main lines, hydro-electric schemes, such as Arapuni and others, and urgentlyneeded railway improvements— which the new Auckland outlet is —crying aloud for all the money available at present. Before New Zealand embarks on any new " Otira Tunnel" projects, there should be made • available to the people a balance-sheet showing what the real Otira cost. Mr. Furkert's report showed plainly enough that the Rimutaka scheme offered no possible prospect of paying. With taxation as high as it is, and reduction urgently needed., with adjustments of the soldier settlement losses still to be faced, the present is no time to discuss schemes which must inevitably involve fresh drains upon the revenue; It might have been expected that after Mr. Furkert's report, the advocates of the Rimutaka deviation would have appreciated the wisdom of abandoning their unrealisable dream. Mr. Field's statement must have been made in the hope that that report had been forgotten.