ANOTHER RAILWAY!

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 4

ANOTHER RAILWAY!

SURPRISE IN HOUSE MINISTER EXPLAINS TURAKINA DEVIATION (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "An Act to authorise the construction of a certain railway." This formal title to a Governor's message introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday aroused keen interest on the Opposition benches, members wondering what further surprise in public works had made an appearance. "Might we ask the Minister, of Public Works to let us into the secret';'' inquired the lit. Hon. G. W- Korhes, Leader of the Opposition, who assured him that there was a good deal of expectation. The Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, relieved the situation by at once explaining that the measure authorised the construction of the deviation of the New Plymouth . railway near Turakina, . from which.. point it would run-liorth"about two"m'iies' east of the existing' line before again junctioning with it. . . There had been a good deal of talk about the necessity lor this deviation for years, added the Minister, and when it was completed it would be a great benefit to the system. The time had arrived when they would need to have a serious look at some of our badlyconstructed railways, and the same applied to highways. With a growing population, which meant increased travel, it was necessary to bring the highways and railways up to a higher standard. The Turakina deviation would cost about ££oo,ooo, and- probably would take three atld' a half years to construct, employing at the peak point between 4CO and 500 men.