GOVERNMENT'S RAILWAY POLICY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14705, 4 June 1920, Page 1

GOVERNMENT'S RAILWAY POLICY.

(Per Press Association.) , ' AUCKLAND, June 3. Questioned to-day as to what the future policy of his department would be in regard to railway construction, the Hon. Gordon Coates said that his idea was to push on with the completion of all main lines in accordance with their national importance; He could not say for a monVnt which were the most important' lines, nor would he make a public statement on the subject until he had drawn up his scheme and placed it before. Cabinet. It would be for Cabinet to decide what course would be followed. All he could do was to make .his recommendations and if these were varied in any way then the Government would be responsible. Instead of cnnst.ur.-tinga whole lot of the lines throughout the country, his object was to lay down a well-de-fined system which would ensure speedy completion of any lines taken in hand. It would be a suicidal policy to follow the system adopted by the previous Government of starting lines in every little nook and corner all over the country. His idea was that the main lines should be the first consideration of : his Department and then others of ■less importance,-', comparatively, would follow. Mr Coates mentioned that the North Auckland main trtink line'is to be pushea on with all speed, his idea being to get that completed as quickly as possible. -