MONEY FOR RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 12

MONEY FOR RAILWAYS.

REFORM PARTY'S POLICY.

THE MORNINGSIDE TUNNEL.

WORKS IN SOUTH ISLAND.

MR. COATES DEFINES ATTITUDE

A contrast between tho present Govern, ment's attitude to railway improvement works, such as the Morningsido tunnel, and its increased expenditure on new linos of railway, was drawn by the Leader of tho Opposition, tho Right Hon. J. G. Coates, in his speech at Remuera last evening.

Mr. Coates began by explaining the distinction between tho construction of new railways and tho carrying out of works under the Railways Improvement Account. Tho present Government, ho said, had mado ono or two alterations under tho latter heading. It had cut out tho Palmerston North deviation, although a Parliamentary report showed that 10 years hcnco it would be essential. "Then thcro is tho Morningsido tunnel," continued Mr. Coates. "Hero I would say that I liavo no objection to any project being thoroughly overhauled. Tho whole process of government is ono of continual investigation and revision. That is the job of thoso jn charge of tho country's affairs.

No Alternative Scheme. "The site of the new Auckland railway station was fixed after wo had investigated and found whether wo could bring tho suburban traffic right into the city. If wo could not, then the whole policy must be open to review. I know it is too late | to alter it now, and tlio only alternative J is to carry a lino through the city and out to the North. (Applausp.) i "You may say that the cost will bo ; £400,000 more than tho estimate, and I 1 agree that it wants looking into, but no alternative has been suggested. Tho Minister of Railways has not suggested one. , In any case, he must come back to the ! central route." | tfhe departmental report published in j 1926, added Mr. Coates, had been pre- ! pared by tho same set of engineers who | had reported upon the scheme. more recently. It stated that tho deviation was justified and would pay 8 per cent, interest on the investment. It was on the programme of improvement works, but its abandonment meant a saving of £BOO,OOO to £1,000,000 in tho Railway Department's expenditure for the time being. Midland Line Opposed. In contrast with these retrenchments in railway improvement works/ there was a heavy increase in expenditure? on railway works under tho Public Works Account. The whole thing was a question of policy—whether tho public was to have in its railways a perfect machine, fully efficient., up-to-date, and economical in operation, .or whether it was to have more new railway lines. "I agreo that every projeet should he fully investigated before it is undertaken," sai'l Mr. Coates. "It has been reported that I have had much to say about the South Island Main Trunk line. I want, to say here that I am in favour of it if it, can be shown to bo a sound commercial proposition. With regard to the Midland line, it is different. The Reform Party says that 1 hero there should bo a halt. The country in that region was badly shaken by tho . recent severe earth movement Wo hope it has settled down, but anyone who has been over the routo .will realise what a shaking it has had. Wo say that thero should be a halt of. a few years before setting out to spend £1,000,000 or £1,500,000 on a line through the Buller Gorge."