REPLY TO COMMENT

Southland Times, Issue 21101, 5 June 1930, Page 6

REPLY TO COMMENT

“COATES TELEGRAM.”

STATEMENT BY MR W. J. GIRLING. AN EXPLANATION. / (Per United Press Association.) Blenheim, June '4. Replying to comments by Mr E. F. Healy M.P., in regard to his explanation relating to the now fainous Coates telegram,-refer-ring to the South Island Main Trunk railway, Mr W. J. Girling made the following statement: “I am surprised at Mr Healy’s persistency in stating that I had received a wire from Mr Coates on the eve of the election in 1928 to the effect that Mr Coates would complete the South Island main trunk, and that I had waved the telegram in the air at my final meeting in Blenheim. This is incorrect, my reference to Mr Coates being as stated previously, that upon completion of the Westport—lnangahua line, he would turn his attention to the South Island main trunk, this latter statement having been made in the House in reply to an interjection from myself. I certainly interpreted that to 'mean that he would proceed with the line at the date when the Westport—lnangahua line was completed, that line having preference in his scheme of railway construction. After the Coates Government had been defeated, I informed Mr Healy that I had not received a wire from Mr Coates that he would go on with the line to which reference had been made in the House during that short session. Mr Healy in reply said ‘Why worry about it?’ Mr Coates did not deny it. Again during the session in 1929, reference to a wire from Mr Coates to me that he would go on with the line was made, and again I mentioned the matter to Mr Healy. As the references to the wire were made on the floor of the House, I was expecting Mr Coates to refer to the matter, but apparently he did not do so. Now that the statement has been made on the public platform, I felt it my duty to reply thereto. I certainly received several wires from Mr Coates on political matters prior to the last election, but in only one was there reference to railway matters and in that one Mr Coates certainly did not commit himself to the immediate prosecution of our railway. Sir Joseph Ward fortunately did promise it immediately, and his advent to power has witnessed a resumption of the work to the delight and satisfaction of all Marlborough people.” .