PUBLIC WORKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8296, 6 December 1912, Page 1

PUBLIC WORKS

SEASONS FOE STOPPAGES. , Press Association, CHRISTCHURCH, December 5. The Hon. W. Eraser, Minister of PnbUo Works, passed through Christchurch to-day to attend the function in honor of the Hon. James Allen, at Lawrence, to-morrow evening. To a "press" representative he referred to the dissatisfaction said to exist ai Cheviot owing to the cessation of work at the southern end of the South Island Main Trunk lino. Mr Fraser said ho had only given effect to his state mont in Parliament when the Public Works Statement was under discussion. The work had even been continued on the line for a longer period than was originally stated. The cessation of the work on several other lines in the Do minion was in pursuance of the Government policy that, with the money avail able this financial year, loss should be spent on railway construction in order that more should be spent on roads and bridges. This was only a temporary cessation for the present financial year When he made the announcement in the House members referred to the nch country between Parnassus and Kaikonra. and he had said that if the country were os rich as it was said to be the Govern tnent ought to acquire it the railway was made through it. and if it were not, then there was no need for hurrying on with the construction of the lino. The Minister was inclined to the belief that the statement made in regard to the probable loss on the work done on the South island Main Trunk between Par aassns and Leader was simply to induce the Government to spend additional money on the line this year. Portion of the line referred to was put in hand before the present Government took office. Work for some of the men employed on the line had been found on the Cass-Bealey section of the Midland railway. Referring to the alleged hardships suffered by married men employed on the South Island Main Trunk, who sunk capital in building huts. Mr Fraser said ho was afraid such hardships were inevitable. as permanent work could not bo guaranteed on railway construction works, where it was customary to slacken off in the summer months when there was plenty of country work available, and to provide work in winter when other work was not so plentiful. Hr Fraser did not know when elec, tricity from Lake Coleridge would be delivered in Christchurch. He was assured by Mr Evan Parry that the cost of the work would not exceed the estiArthur’s Pass tunnel, the Minis ter said that nothing had been definitely settled, but he expected that the matter wniilH ’be gone into when the Ministers reassembled in Wellington,