MORE RAILWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 12

MORE RAILWAYS

COMPLETION OF LINES NAPIER-GISBORNE ROUTE WORK TO START NEXT WEEK [llV TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Government's programme for tho completion of several main railway lines will he initiated next week, when more than 100 men will start work on the Napier-Wairoa section of the Napier-Gisborne line. Tho subsequent programme will include the completion of the South Island main trunk and of the Westport-Inangahua line through tho Ruller Gorge. This announcement was made in an interview to-night by tho Minister of Public Works, Hon. P. Semple, who said he had been assured bv the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, that finance would bo made available for tho railway construction programme as it was required. "Once we get started wo are, not going to dwell on the job," said Mr. Semple. "Jt has been definitely decided that tho South Island main trunk line will bo completed. We have to do tho job, but wo don't know when it will be started. Representations have also been made about tho extension of the South line, which has its present terminus at Poss, and that will be thoroughly investigated. There is no question that the WestportInangahua lino will be completed, but there again we cannot say when a start will be made." The Minister stated that tho first objective in connection with work on the Gisborne line would be to have it completed as far as Wairoa, so that a service could be rendered to that district. Ho hoped to have 1000 men on the job within a fairly short time and he thought that ultimately the work would occupy between 1300 and 1400 men. On tho basis of the report made by the Railways Hoard in 1931, in which the closing of those works was recommended, it would cost £4,295,000 to complete tho construction of the South Island main trunk line, the NapierGisborne line and the Westport-Inanga-hua line. The biggest item in this expenditure was the South Island main trunk, the figure in that case being £2,212,000.

NEW CONTROL POLICY DEFENCE OF CHANGE COUNCIL PASSES THE BILL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Replying in the Legislative Council to-day to the second reading debate on the Government .Railways Amendment Bill, the Lender of the Council, Hon. M. 1'" agan, said that legislation would be introduced to see that unearned increment arising from land improved by a new railway went to the State. With the removal of an autocratic Railways Board the ground would be cleared for the unification and co-ordination of transport. Air. Fftgan said he had refrained from mentioning names of Railways Board members, but mention had been made in the Council. At 110 stage had any member of the Government attributed any ulterior motive to any member of the board. Mr. D. Reese's name had been mentional in the Council, and Air. Fagan contended that it was unfair on the part of the late Government to subject Mr. Reese to the ordeal to which 110 had been subjected. Dealing with the abolition of the board as part of Labour's platform Mr. Fagan said that'the Ministers were clear and definite on the point that it was a definite plank put before the people. Specific mention might not have been made of the Railways Board, but it was definitely said that boards which were doing work which the Government did not want to do would be abolished and boards administering the Government's policy be allowed to remain. The Government would see that when Ministerial control was restored to the railways maladministration which hod occuried under previous Governments would not occur. ' Before any line was constructed in New Zealand or a partly-completed line finished proper estimates would be made and a full report put before Parliament before any money was asked for, said Mr. Fagan. When control of the railways had passed hack into the hands of the Minister there would be no losses in the department as far as services rendered to the people were concerned.

The bill was read a second time by 23 votes to G, those opposing it the Hons. W. Hay ward, L. M. lsitt (Canterbury)*, |{. Masters (Taranaki), W. Perry (Wellington), F. Waito (Otago) and Sir 11. Hcaton Rhodes (Canterbury). The bill was put through {he committee stages and passed.