RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 16

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Talking about expenditure, he had better deal with the question of railway construction. They would agree with him that the methods on which our railways had been constructed was anything but satisfactory. — ("Hear, hear.") Prior to last session there were 18 railways in course of construction in the colony, and last session about half a dozen more were authorised, and there were probably 20 railways now in different parts of the colony on which a little work was being done, but not one of them nearing completion, and not one of them being energetically pushed forward. — (Applause.) These railways were not being constructed to suit the people of the colony, but to keep them quiet before the election. — (''Hear, hear.") The result was a serious loss to the people of the colony, for in many places the sleepers laid were actuallyrotting before the lines were opened for traffic : and there was the loss in connection with interest between the time of borrowing the money and the time when the railway became a reproducing asset. He was going to make a suggestion which might or might not be popular. It would be far bettor to concentrate the energies to finishing a few of the main railways and open them as speedily as possible. — (Applause.) He knew the difficulty was in selecting those lines. The Government would not do it ; it hadn't sufficient backbone before the election. He was not in favour of Royal Commissions, but he thought in the ease of the North Island railwa-ys, say, three good business men should be selected from the South Island to go over the different lines and select those most necessary, and, as a North Island member, he was prepared to let them select ; and then three North Island men might come down to the South Island and inspect the lines. He would take men from one island to report on the other, so as to get away from local influence and local prejudice. Every pretext was nowbeing used to delay construction ; it might be the question of rival routes, of which, the people in Otago had experience, or they might be told there was a demand for harvest Hands, and so construction was checked, or it might be a question of calling tenders for a bridge. Tenders were called for the Makohine viaduct, and a southern firm tendered £46,000. the work to be completed in two years. The Government said the price was too high, and resolved to undertake the work itself. The result was that the viaduct cost £90,000, and it took six years instead of two. There was a story about lhat viaduct which ho would give for n hat it was worth. It was said throe mon-fwo of them workers and the other an oierseor — were sent along to commence excavating for the foundations One man got tired. and left, and so {here was. one man and an overseer on the job.— (Laughter.) Very soon the other man got lonely, and loft: «aid he was not oroing to build the blooming Makohine viaduct — (Laughter) Joking apait ifc wn« quid" 1 time railway con-tiue-t ion was iukpii vi hand In hu»im^-> men, and i.inicd fonuud on -ound busines-s lines. — uipnLuus.)