THE HON. J. G. COATES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19404, 13 February 1925, Page 8

THE HON. J. G. COATES.

TOUR OF CENTRAL OTAGO. RAILWAY MATTERS. REQUESTS BY DEPUTATIONS. (From Our Special Reporter.) QUEENSTOWN, February 12. In the course of a speech at Arrowtown last night the Hon. J. G. Coates (Ministei of Railways) stated that Mr H. H. Sterling, who has been an acting-member of the Railways Board, had been appointed a permanent member of the board. Mr Coates also mentioned that the question of freights was now being investigated f horoughly, and ho hoped to bring a new tariff and a new system of accounting into operation on April 1. As far as possible, the Minister added, that department was trying to co-ordinate a number of motor services with the railways, so that the people living in places not served by the railways could book stuff right through to their destination. Deputations which waited on Mr Coates at Alexandra, Tarras, Hawea, and Pembroke to-day urged an extension of tho Otago Central railway. In reply tho Minister said he could not say anything definite about tho railway at present. He had received a report on. it from Mr Marks on the way up from Dunedin. The proposal was that if tho line were extended it should go to Luggate, and that the roads should radiate from there. Careful surveys had been made, but they had not been considered by the departmental officers in Wellington or by himself. As soon as he had gone carefully into tho matter he would be able to make a statement.