“PROGRESSIVE RAILWAY POLICY.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18896, 23 June 1923, Page 3

“PROGRESSIVE RAILWAY POLICY.”

A STATEMENT EXAGGERATED. MINISTER PUTS HIMSELF ON SIDE. (Feom Oob Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 22. In tho House of Representatives to-day the Minister of Railways (tlio Hon. J. C. Coates) said ho wanted to correct a statement made in the press yesterday to the effect that he had a very progressive railway policy up his sleeve. llej thought taero was a iitalo misunderstanding in that connoetion. —(Laughter.) He did not mind hon. gentlemen making what fun they could out of that statement. Mr Massey: Ho laughs best who laughs

last. . Mr Coates; I don’t mind being laughed at, but it is not quite fair to state that in tho very short time I have been Minister of Railways I have hatched a progressive railway policy. Ho added, to put it plainly, that ho did not pretend to know very much about railways, anil tho statement that appeared in the papers was not made by him. It was made by members of the deputation that interviewed him about excursion fares to Queenstown, and it was a little bit misleading, though he believed it. was not intentional on their part. In regard to the re-institution of excursion tickets to Queenstown, ho had (old tho

deputation that waited upon him that whatever was agreed to in this respect \vould have to apply equally to other tourist resorts in New Zealand. —(Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”) Ho had told the deputation that ho would look very carefully into the matter and give n reply to Mr Horn before November, He did not, however, think the hon. member fo v Wakatipu wished to create a wrong impression. At tho same time he (Mr Coates) did not want anyone to think that he had up his sleeve a progressive railway policy that had been hatched in a few days. That would take

some time to accomplish, and the difficulties could not bo dealt with in a comparatively short time. , Mr J. Horn (Wakatipu) obtained permission to make a statement. 110 endorsed what tho Minister had said, and he had intended taking the first opportunity of putting tho matter right. Ho regretted what bad appeared in the press. Hie words of the Minister were that ho would carefully consider tho matter and give an answer before November. He (Mr Horn) regrcl.tod that any other meaning should have been implied'in regard to the Minister’s remarks In connection with this matter it should he stated that members of tho press gallery were not made aware that there was to be such a deputation to the Minister, and tlie report was supplied to the press by ■two members of tho deputation.