THEY ARRIVE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 256, 7 October 1931, Page 5

THEY ARRIVE

MARLBOROUGH DEPUTATIONISTS CHEEREDIN" WELLINGTON PILGRIMAGE TO PARLIAPrtENT Press Association.—Copyright. PARLIAMENT BLDGS., To-day. The unusual spectacle of the huge deputation from the Marlborough district arriving by special steamer from Picton aroused considerable interest in the city this morning. The party left the South Island in the early hours, and reaclved Wellington at 10.45 a.m. Each member wore a ribbon inscribed "S.I.M.T. Must Live," and altogether there were 480 residents of Marlborough district who had made the special trip to urge Parliament to continue the construction of the South Island Main Trunk railway. As the deputation lined up on the wharf it could he seen there was a sprinkling of all sections of (he community, including professional men, business men. farmers and clergymen. The party, which was led by Mr. Healy, member for Wairau, was headed by a pipe hand and was cheered by spectators as it marched off the wharf and proceeded in a most orderly manner through the city streets to Parliament Buildings. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, gave notice in the House of Representatives to-night of his intention to move to-morrow that the House resolve itself into a committee to consider a resolution approving the Railway Board's recommendation not to proceed with the construction work on the following railways: WharanuiParnassus, Ptitorino-Wairoa, Te KiihiiInangahua. Construction of the remaining three railways on which the board had adversely reported had been stopped previously.

THE CASE STATED Resources of District Would Be Increased STOPPAGE WILL MEAN A DEAD LOSS PARLIAMENT BLDGS., To-day. The deputation was introduced to members of both Houses of Parliament, by Mr. Healy, who said all the people of Marlborough were behind the advocacy for the completion of the lineMr. W. T. Churchward, president of the Marlborough Progress League, said the board had based its findings on fallacies and contended that if the line were completed there would be a saving to the State on the organisation of the present dead-end services of £50,000 annually. The resources of Marlborough would be increased to the extent of over half a million annually, from which he estimated the State would gain an additional £104,000 annually in taxation, whereas if the work on the line were slopped there would be a perpetual loss of £42,000, representing interest on £BOO,OOO already spent on the work.

There would be no loss to the State if the line were completed. Other advocates who spoke Avere Mr. W. J. Girling, member of the Progress League, and two representa.tives of the workers on the WharanuiParnassus section, who spoke of the unemployment the stoppage of work would involve.

The Westpori Line DEPUTATION FROM WEST COAST CRITICISM OF RAILWAY BOARD WELLINGTON, To-day. Before the Marlborough deputation had stated its case a deputation of nve from the Buller district waited upon members of Parliament and stated the case tor the continuation of the Westport-inangahua line. The deputation, which was received by about lifty members, crossed swords with the Government Railways Board and stated that members of the board had not devoted sunicient time to the district on the investigation of the possibilities of the line to enable it to arrive at a well-founded decision. Speakers referred to the great potentialities of the Buller district, dwelling particularly on three aspects—coal production, timber production, and land settlement. The point was stressed that three distinct political parties had favoured the completion of the line and it was stated that if the work' were stopped now there would be tremendous wastage of public money. Another point made .was that it was from the uncompleted section of the line I hat the greatest revenue could be expected. The Westport line was al present the best paying line in the Dominion.