SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22868, 30 April 1936, Page 13

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAYS

TRUNK LINE TO BE COMPLETED SURVEY OF MIDLAND ROUTE PRIME MINISTER’S PROMISE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 29. The Government’s determination to complete the South Island Main Trunk railway and carry out an early survey of the uncompleted section of the Midland line from Glenhopc to Innngahua was expressed by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, to-day. Replying to an influential deputation from the Nelsou, Motueka, and Murchison districts, he said it appeared from first glance that there was an unanswerable case for the completion of the Midland line, but until a survey was made he could not commit the Government. No time would be lost in making the survey, and the people of the district would be informed of the decision at the earliest possible moment. Mr Savage said he had heard it said that the railways 'would not x>ay. He agreed that it was not a question whether the railway system was returning sufficient revenue or not. It was a question whether a railway was serving an area so far as development was concerned. lie said the railways were going to be up to date, and he visualised the time when rail cars would be in use in most parts of New Zealand for the transport of passengers. He said they could not legislate their competitors off the roads completely, but they could provide means of transport which were us good as or better than those of competitors. The South Island Main Trunk line, he declared, had to be completed. “We will be accused of lavish expenditure,” he concluded. “ That might be true, but we will have, something to show for it at the end.” \