THE RAILWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 21430, 26 June 1931, Page 7

THE RAILWAYS

MAIN TRUNK LINE. INSPECTION BY BOARD. (Per United Press Association.) Blenheim, June 25. After a very rough trip from Wellington, the members of the Railway Board, who are to inspect the route of the South Island main trunk railway and to report upon the project to the Minister of Railways, reached Blenheim late last evening and, after a late dinner, immediately went into private conference in reference to the railway. The members who arrived are Sir James Gunson and Messrs G. W. Reid, D. Reese and E. Newman. They are accompanied by the General Manager of Railways, Mr H. H. Sterling, and the Secretary, Mr J. E. Bell, with Mr D. Brodie, of the Railways Department. With the party is Mr F. W. Furkert, the Government’s Engineer-in-Chief.

The party left this morning on an inspection of the line. At a special meeting of the Marlborough Progress League, the president, Mr W. T. Churchward, acting on behalf of the Railway Committee, submitted a revised and amplified edition of the league’s case for the South Island Main Trunk. This was approved and is to be forwarded to the Railway Board for consideration. It was reported at the meeting that the Canterbury Progress League was also submitting a separate report and that arrangements were being made for Mr J. E. Strachan, representing the Canterbury League, and Mr Churrhward, representing the Marlborough Progress League, to give oral evidence before the board in Wellington.

REPORT ON PROJECT SENT TO RAILWAYS BOARD. CAREFUL INVESTIGATION. A report upon the projected operation and constructional aspects of the South Island Main Trunk railway has been prepared after careful investigation by officers of the Public Works and Railways Departments. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, stated in an interview with the Dominijn that this document would be forwarded to the Railways Board with a view to assisting it in any recommendations it might make to the Government. It has been stated freely during recent weeks that the report, had been completed. It was originally intended that the document should be placed before Cabinet, but the direct power of making investigations into lines under construction lias now passed to .the new board

The Minister said that some time ago, before the passing of the legislation which established the Railways Board, he had arranged for certain officers of his department and some from the Railways Department to collaborate in the preparation of a report dealing with the operational as well as constructional side of the work. . Had control of railway construction continued as before, it had been his intention to seek the co-ordination of the two departments concerned and then to make recommendations to Cabinet, in accordance with the information supplied. In the present instance, however, he stated that the report, which contained much valuable information, particularly on the operational side, would now be referred to the Railways Board in order that it might assist the board in regard to its subsequent recommendations to the Government. It was essential, in his opinion, that there should be complete co-ordina-tion between the two departments in re gard to all constructional work, and, Mr Taverner said, he would do everything to assist the board toward that end.