MIDLAND RAILWAY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 2

MIDLAND RAILWAY

CHRISTCHURCH, August 16.

At the annual meeting of the Sheepowners’ Union a motion that no action be taken respecting the appointment of representatives of the union on a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce regarding speedier completion of the Midland Railway, was opposed by Sir John Hall, who said he had had something to do with the West Coast Railway, and was sincerely of opinion that its completion would be of great benefit to Canterbury and the .West Coast. He had recently been over the whole line as far as it had been constructed, and felt satisfied that it was no use pushing on therailwav to each end of the tunnel unless the tunnel itself was gone on with. If the railway was to be completed, tbe first step to be taken should be that of constructing the tunnel, and the best way of doing that would be by letting a contract for the work. He would move as •am amendment —“That it is desirable that the completion of the West Coast Railway should be proceeded with, and that the construction of the tunnel should, becarried out by contract.” In reply to objections that the line would not pay, Sir John Hall pointed out that if the work was not gone on with an enormous amount of money would be absolutely wasted. One speaker said the only argument that could be brought forward in support of the completion of the line was that as so much money had been spent on the line more should be spent, in order to complete it. He considered that wasa ridiculous argument. The amendment was lost, and the motion agreed to..