SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16866, 1 February 1929, Page 12

SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK

MINISTER INSPECTS ROUTES The inland and coastal routes for the closing of the gap in the South Island main trunk railway between Parnassus and Ward were inspected by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon, E. A. Ransom, last week-end. In an interview in Christchurch, the Minister said he was somewhat disappointed with the inland route from the point of view of the possibilities of closer settlement. The country traversed did not, however, seem to be carrying as much*stook as it could. The coastal route, which funs along the beach, showed little land that could be developed, continued Mr. Ransom. It was an excellent tourist route, and it seemed that it would be a pity to put a railway line through it and spoil the verdure. Unless the cost of the coastal rbute was considerably less than that of the inland route, it seemed to him that'*it Would not be advisable to put a railway along the coast. The Minister made it_ clear that he was not committing himself to any roufe yet, as the important question of cost has still to lie gon< into.