ELECTRIC RAILWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27570, 12 December 1950, Page 6

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS

Needs Of South Island Not Deemed Urgent Staff Reporter The South Island was fortunately placed for fuel supplies and the figures for density of traffic indicated that electrification of the Main Trunk railway was not a pressing matter as it was in the North Island, where the Main Trunk line was approaching saturation point, stated the Minister of Railways in a letter which has been received by the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce.

“Although an investigation was conducted in the South Island some years ago, this was of a preliminary nature only,” the Minister said, “and was not carried to the stage where the preparation of plans could be undertaken. I wish to assure you that the South Island’s interest in electrification will not be overlooked, and that the Government will give due consideration to the question when density of traffic and other economic factors indicate that electrification is warranted.” The Dunedin Chamber of Commerce was interested in the recent visit of two Swedish expert engineers who came to report on the'electrification of railways in the Dominion. The Chamber considered that their report should cover the South Island, particularly because of the immense power potential in this island. The Minister has told the chamber that the determination of the electrification of a line of railway does not rely merely upon the availability of power. Factors to be considered are the initial costs of electrification and economics regarding traffic density and the present ability to cope with the traffic. The availability of fuel for steam locomotives is also important, especially where reliance is placed on sea-borne supplies. The South Island is fortunately placed for fuel supplies and electrification is not such a pressing matter as in the north. Mr Goosman told the chamber that the North Island Main Trunk was carrying 60 per cent, of the whole of

the North Island traffic, 40 per cent, of New Zealand traffic and 13 per cent, more than the whole of the South Island traffic. Although the Minister has apparently stated a strong case for North Island priority in the electrification of railways. Dunedin citizens actively interested in the progress of the South Island would regard this as another step in the "stalling” process against the advancement of the South Island towards more equality with the North. The feeling in the south is that the gap between the progress of the islands is steadily widening. Priorities are usually decided in proportion to population and by that method the North Island must lead all the time. Dunedin businessmen hold that such a system perpetuates the disparity between the islands. They say that industries and business interests in the South Island should be encouraged in order to balance the scales. An example was the allocation of State houses in proportion to the number of applicants. That was a fair enough system, but it strengthened the North Island’s claims all the time against the South. Housing determined the labour potential in any district, and by allocating more houses to the South Island there would tend to be a flow of population there in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. The difference between the islands would grow unless the Government put incentives to progress in the way of the South.