SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 13

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY

MINISTER DEFENDS SCHEME.

COST OF £27,715 A MILE.

HIGHER THAN PRESENT SECTIONS.

[r.Y TELEGRAPH. —SFECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

Arguments in favour of tho South Island Main Trunk railway wc.ro advanced by tlio lion. W. B. Tavcrner, Minister of Railways, during his speech in tho llouso this afternoon.

Mr. Tavcrner said tho properties to be served by tlio railway covered an area of approximately 1,039,767 acres, of which tlio capital value was £2,296,325 and the unimproved value £1,669,742, while tho value of improvements amounted to £626,583. The total population of tho four counties—tho Sounds, Marlborough, Awatero and Kaikoura —which would bo directly served by the railway was 19,035, tho total capital value of tlioso counties boing £9,792,684. "Tho tendency seems to bo to take tlio section from Wliaranui to Parnassus by itself and ask will it pay?" said Mr. Tavernor. "In the first place that section must bo considered as part and pareel of tho South Island Main Trunk line, and also as part and parcel of our national system. It is not similar to a branch lino or a dead end. Tho estimated cost lias been put down at £32,000 a mile, whereas tho public works estimate is £27,715 a mile, but is it fair to take even tho last-mentioned sum as a basis for determining operating results? Comparison of Costs. "It is a matter of historical fact that the lino from Ilurunui to Bluff and tho various branches connected with that line were built at an average cost of £12,200 a mile, but no one would bo foolish enough to conclude that the line through the very difficult parts of Otago was built at that figure. Why, therefore, single out the line between Wliaranui and Parnassus? Should we not rather take the average cost of construction, at least from Picton to Christchurch ?"

The figures for the whole line were as follows: —From Christchurch to Waipara, a distance of 40 miles, the cost per mile was £15,000; from Waipara to Parnassus, 44 miles, £B6BI a mile; from Parnassus to Wliaranui, 78 miles, £27,715 a mile; and from Wliaranui to Picton, 56 miles, £12,413 a mile; giving a total cost of £3,837,660 for 218 miles of construction, or an average cost of £17,600 a mile. Outlet for Stock. Referring to the adverse criticism of tlio proposed railway by Mr. H. S. S. Kvlo (Riccarton), the Minister stated the lion, member, with his practical experience in matters pertaining to the transportation of stock, must be aware of the disabilities and the great loss suffered by sheepfarmers and others in the Awatere and Kaikoura districts, and of the long drives made necessary by the lack of railway facilities. The Minister had been assured by reliable informants that the loss was very heavy indeed, and frequently ran into shillings per head of stock. ft had been pointed out to him that Addington supplied the most lucrative market for the disposal of sheep and lambs, but the conditions under which they had to be transported at present to that distributing centre were such that the producer received a return considerably less than would be the case if railway facilities were provided. Mr. Taverner added that tlio great majority of the South Island people were entirely if; favour of the proposed continuation of the Main Trunk line. They were not looking on the matter in any parochial light, but were imbued with the national spirit in their desire that the two islands should be more completely linked.

THE PALMERSTON SCHEME. REASONS FOR THE STOPPAGE. LARGE AMOUNT EXPENDED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday. A defence of the Government's action in abandoning the railway deviation scherno at Palmerston North was undertaken by tho Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister of Railways, in tho House this afternoon.

The scheme ind been proposed in 1924, said the Minister. At that time traflic developments indicated that the business to be handled would within a few years have outgrown tho accommodation that, could have been provided on tho sito of tho present station. That anticipation was not realised, and that fact, accompanied by tho alteration in the incidence of tho work at Palmerston North, apart from the local traffic, obviously called for a review of tho situation.

The .matter was carefully investigated by the executive officers of the department and tho conclusion was reached that with an expenditure of about £33.000 the necessary facilities to enable traffic to be dealt with could be provided on the present site. The only other consideration that arose in connection with tho original proposals was tho desirability of movinp tho lino from its present route to obviate level crossings. It seemed clear the hugo sum involved in tho completion of tho deviation would not bo justified to achieve that end, especially in view of tho fact that a very large proportion of the present lino between the Square and Terrace End would require to bo loft, in its present position and worked for tho purpose of goods traffic. Tn the light of those factors tho deviation, which would have cost at least £725,000, ot which £156.000 had been spent bv the Public Works Department, and £47,000 by tho Railway Department, the latter being on the purchase of land, had been stopped. No difficulty in obtaining suitable tenancies for the land was anticipated.

" SITTING ON THE FENCE."

MEMBER AND FLOUR DUTIES.

MR. POLSON'S VIEWS SOUGHT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday.

The cautious attitude of Mr. W. J. Poison (Stratford) on the wheat and flour question was criticised by Mr. H. G. Dickio (Patea) in the House this afternoon. Apparently Mr. Poison did not know where he stood, said Mr. Dickie. A Member: He doesn't want to know.

Mr. Dickio: He represents the Farmers' Union, too. A fine example of a unionist pitting on tho fence. It reminds me of a popular song, which says: "There ain t no sonse sitting on a fence all by yourself in the moonlight." (Laughter.)

A Member: In the moonshine. Mr. Speaker: Order! Order! " We want to know where he stands," added Mr. Dickie. A Voice: He will know shortly. Mr. Dickie: Yes, but we can't wait for ever. Ho will have to como off the fence sooner or later.