SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21196, 29 November 1930, Page 23

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK.

A VIGOROUS INDICTMENT. USELESS WASTE OE PUBLIC MONEY. (Special to Dailt Times.) AUCKLAND, November 28. “I think the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway is a policy of the consistency of fools. Here we are doing our best to stop national leakages, only to find that money is being poured into this undertaking regardless of consequences. Why, even the people in the locality to be served by the line are laughing over the work. They know they have put one over the rest of New Zealand,” ■ This indictment was made this morning by Mr N. 6. Gribble, secretary of the New Zealand Land Settlernent and Development League, on his return from a visit of inspection to the South Island, including the route frqm Wharanui southward. “The people who are supposed to be wanting the line know perfectly well that the proposition is not sound',” declared Mr Gribble. “ They wake up each morning pleasantly surprised to find that the work of construction has not been stopped. They sing in their baths at the knowledge that the work is proceeding. Some of the settlers 1 met regard the whole thoing as a big joke, and are marvelling that the people concerned should be' able to get away with it.” ' , Mr Gribble said that hia observations showed that a considerable portion of the country proposed to be served by the new line was of the poorest possible quality, and for miles and miles the actual railway track was laid on sandhills on which marram grass had been planted in an endeavour .to prevent the track from being entirely obliterated in easterly weather. Many, of the culverts put in had already silted. • “I have always regarded myself as being optimistic of New Zealand’s future,, hut I was never so near to being disheartened as I was after inspecting this work,” said Mr Gribble. “If the people of New Zealand could only afford to visit the locality they would immediately, demand a cessation of the work. It .seems fantastic to imagine that even any political end is served by constructs the-line, but I cannot believe that anybody.with an elementary knowledge of business would imagine that any real benefits will accrue from the undertaking. The promise to construct the line was given in a wild moment, and it Ts being redeemed regardless of anything else. " I discussed the'proposition with, scores of people in .Christchurch, and I did not find one who was prepared to justify the line.” Mr Gribble expressed a doubt'whether even as much as 10 per cent, of the country'to .be served would yield any revenue to the railway when it was completed. The present position in New Zealand; demanded a national stock- ■ taking, but in the absence of that in the meantime there should be a sectional overhaul starting with the South Island Mam Trunk railway.