MINISTERS ON TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22778, 14 January 1936, Page 10

MINISTERS ON TOUR

MIDLAND RAILWAY LINE FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS SETTLERS MEET MR SEMPLE (Per United Press Association) NELSON, January 13. A deputation waited on the Minister of Public Works, Mr R. Semple,* at Murchison to-day regarding the completion of the Midland line. At present there is rail communication from Invercargill as far as Inangahua, Canterbury and Westland being connected by the through Arthur’s Pass, and the Minister is being requested to support a proposal to bridge the gap between Inangahua and Gowan. On the northern side is the Nelson section of about 08 miles; most of the construction work between Gowan and Murchison to the south, a distance of 17 miles, has been done. In the Murchison to Iliangahua section no work has been done, and the_total length of the gap between railheads is 42 miles, on 14 miles of which construction is well advanced. The completion of this, it is claimed, would greatly increase the value and utility of the portions already constructed.

It is estimated that the cost of doing the work is £1,850,000, which is £728,000 less than is estimated to bd required for the completion of the South Island Main Trunk railway. The strategic advantages of the Midland railway, which would traverse the heart of the country, are felt by its advocates to be superior to those of the Main Trunk, for it would open up access to the timber,' coal, and agricultural land of the West Coast. At a conservative estimate it is claimed that the completion of the Midland line would bring about an annual increase of revenue to the line of £123,000, and it is felt that this would more than' justify the Government in deciding to meet the league’s request. INVESTIGATION PROMISED. Replying to the (deputation, Mr Semple stated that the Government was not responsible for the promises of previous Governments, nor for the sins of past Governments. He expected that the Government would in time have enough of its own sins to account for. At the present time the question of getting back control of the railways by the Government instead of by a board was being gone into. The Government would undertake the responsibility for public expenditure and would not delegate that responsibility to anyone else. In regard to the Midland line, Mr Semple continued, there would lie a full investigation into the possibility of completing the full line and of_ partially completing it- as far as Murchison. The investigations would be broken into two parts fcr that purpose. When the Government completed any line would expect that the people would give 100 per cent, loyalty to the railway. The Government would not interfere with the rights of individuals, but if people asked for a line for access and the work was done the Government would expect them to give support to it instead of to throatcutting competition. The Government built roads on rail routes and then motor transport commenced competition. In some cases it was unfair competition through the wages paid to some of the drivers being a disgrace. Sweating and cut-throat competition would not be tolerated. It was the desire of the Government to give the people the best transport and road facilities, so that they could get their‘produce to the markets. A good reading system was one of the best assets a nation could have. The Minister then outlined the expense incurred on the Gisborne line, which had not been completed. Before the Government spent money on that line, he said, it would investigate first to see if it was justified, and then go ahead and not have it partly done and leave it to rot. The matter would be considered from a developmental aspect. If the Midland line was considered justified the Government would go ahead, but if it was decided not to complete it then the people would be told why. The Government would not ask the Railways Board to do its thinking. The people had elected the Government to do its own thinking without consulting any boards. If it was decided to complete the work, then a convenient time table would be arranged so that could use it. Any excuses for not using it would be removed before it was opened. LEWIS PASS ROAD. Replying to another deputation, Mr Semple said the department would go into the matteer of the Lewis Pass road. In regard to road matters, there was a board which limited the power of the Government, and reconstruction would have to be made. When all possible information regarding the proposal had been placed before the department it would be considered. REEF PROSPECTING. The chairman •of the Murchison County Council (Mr T. O. Morel) said that in the Murchison County there was a good deal of' mining. He asked the Minister if he would outline the policy of the Government in regard to reef prospecting. Men engaged in reef prospecting were on the same subsidy as other prospectors, but those in the latter category were in a better position because they usually found a little gold. The Minister said that his department had nothing to do with the subsidy paid to prospectors, which was handled by the Unemployment Board. At the present time his department had no money to assist mining, but the Unemployment Board had sympathetically assisted in the prospecting of quartz reefs. In some cases it had granted up to full-time wages for such men if they were practical and qualified. If the people of Murchison had practical men and the inspectors ..nd officers could recommend the expenditure oi money for such prospecting he felt sure that something would be done to assist them. lie gave an assurance that the Mines Department would be a real live department which would be ready to assist those who wished to mine, but it would give the death sentence to those who went into mining ag a speculation. RELIEF CAMP WORKERS.

Replying to representations made by men from a relief camp at Takaka Hill, the Minister said that the Government was at present going into the whole question of men on such works. They would Ire properly housed and provision would be made so that it would not be necessary for them to keep two homes while they were engaged on such works. It was the intention of the Government to abolish relief works and convert them into public works at proper wages. “ If a man is a trier and does not earn the amount fixed for the wages he will get those wages, but if he is a ‘ scrounger ’ then he will get the order of the boot,” added the Minister. Hearty receptions were accorded to Mr Semple and the Minister of Mines Mr P. C. Webb, at both Motueka and Murchison, where very large gatherings assembled to meet them.