SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 32

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. The Christchurch Press has received from the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coates) the following statement: The Christchurch Press of April 16 last contains a letter signed by Mr Goulter, chairman of the Marlborough '.Progress League, dealing with the South Island Main Irunk Railway. The arguments used by Mr Goulter and those who favour the construction of this line are that it will provide quick through transport for the carriage of passengers, goods, and mails, that the country through which the line will pass is capable of supporting the railway, and trade and commerce will be developed, opportunity afforded for cheap travelling, and time economised. Mr Goulter estimates the total receipts from the line would be £206,053. It may safely be concluded that his estimate of the business will not be a conservative one. For the purpose of estimating expenditure, he considers one train each way per dav would be sufficient to deal with the traffic. The distance from Picton to Christchurch is 205 miles. A train serving all stations, and working both goods and passenger traffic would require at least 16 hours to do the journey. It is obvious that for the purpose of catering for through passenger traffic such a service would be absolutely useless. It would not commend itself to anv section of the community nor command the through passenger business, which in such circumstances would continue to come by ferry steamer from Lvttelton to Wellington. I have no doubt that so far as Blenheim and Picton pasengers are concerned they would nrefer to travel by boat from Picton to Wellington, and Wellington to Lyttelton, rather than face the tedium of the rail journev in such a train as is suggested by Mr Goulter. If the line were completed between Wharanui and Waiau a demand would undoubtedly be made for a through passenger service; and to provide for the goods and local business an additional mixed train would be necessary. On the expenditure side, Mr Goulter falls Into the error of computing the train mileage at 15s 2d per mile—the cost in the South Island was 14s 4id per mile last financial year, ffhe financial position would therefore be approximately as follows: Expenditure. Cost of train service, two trains each way per day £184,474 Interest on capital' at 3| per cent. 121’543 Total expenditure £306,017 Estimated revenue 206^053 Loss per annum £99 954 Say £loo^ooo