UNFINISHED RAILWAYS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17950, 30 November 1932, Page 3

UNFINISHED RAILWAYS

PLEA FOR COMPLETION I BOARD’S REPORT DISCUSSED I USE OE DIESEL ENGINES ("Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, hist night. 'The report of the Government Railways Hoard was discussed in the Rouse of Representatives to-day. Mr E. ,1. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) _ suggested that the New Zealand railways could Re run more economically, and give 'better service and compete successfully with motor services. He did not understand why Diesel engines had not been used. Mr A. I). McLeod (Coal., Wairarapa) said he was afraid that a lot they had j heard about the virtues of Diesel engines was the result of clever propaj ganda. Mr J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) 'alleged that Mr Coates, when formerly Minister of Railways, had been very extravagant, and said it was extraordinary that he was now over at Motueka telling the people there how the country 'should be run. Air Lee criticised the expenditure on the Kirihoponui “balloon loop” and the Middleton marshalling yards at 'Christchurch, in particular. Mr W. .1. Poison (Coal., Stratford) said -that there had been shocking mis-

statements liv members of the Labor Party during the 'Motueka campaign, with reference to past expenditure. Tie said that the works to which Mr Lee had .referred had been undertaken in good times, and those responsible could not be blamed for failing to foresee f lic difficulties now confronting the country. Mr W. A. Yeitcli (Coal., Wanganui) said there were many reasons why Diesel engines Should not bo used in New Zealand. A report on the suitability of these engines had been submitted to the Government by a high officer of the Railway Department, who had expressed the view that it would not bo wise for the Government to go in for them. NAPIER-WAIR.OA LINE Mr W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) mentioned the possibility of a private company being formed to take over and complete and operate the line between Napier and Wairoa. lie said the difficulty was that under present conditions the negotiations could not be carried out with any one body, because that portion of the line between Napier and Putorino was under the control of the Railways Board, while 'the section between Putorino and Wairoa was still at the disposal oft the Public Works Department. He asked the Prime Minister whether arrangements could be made for the Railways Board to hand back to the Public Works Department that portion which it controlled, and which it never intended to operate. This would enable negotiations to be brought to an issue, because those interested in the completion of the line would at least he able to make definite proposals. Mr A. ,T. Murdoch (Goal., Marsden) expressed the opinion that it would be advantageous to complete some of the lines on which work had been suspended. Ho said that there was plenty of unemployed labor in the country, and he believed it would be better to employ this labor in completing railway lines than in some wotlc it was performing to-day. It would surely be possible to earn interest on some of the money that had been spout on railway projects, but so long as the lines were left uncompleted no interest could bo earned.

Replying to the discussion, the Et. Hon. G. W. Forbes said the policy of the Railways Board was to get the best use out of the railways, and at the same time lighten the burden on •the taxpayer as much as possible. There had been allegations that the rolling stock had deteriorated, but lie could give those statements a denial. Continuing, he said he could assure members that the experts of the department were watching the development of the Diesel engines very closely, and would be willing to recommend the adoption of these engines in New Zealand once they were certain they would benefit the country.