EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1917, Page 2

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

SOUTH ISLAND LINES CRITICISED. Press Association. NAPIER, June 26. The last pile of the West Shore bridge was driven to-day at a public ceremony attended by representatives of most of the local bodies. The bridge will be completed by January next, and is to carry the East Coast railway as well as vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Mr A. E. Jull, chairman of the Harbour Board, suggested that there was a very great demand and a legitimate demand for the East Coast railway. (Hear, hear.) There might be means by whirh pressure could be brought to bear on those who were responsible for the Government's policy in these matters. Pressure might be brought to bear in the matter on the question of national efficiency. He contended that there was in that district a need for railway communication with the East Coast for purposes of assisting the production of the district. There was ill the South Island a railway, known as the Otago Central railway, which wsa 143 miles in length. Canada was tearing up her railways and sending the material to the Western front. What was there to prevent this country from lifting the Otago Central railway," which only paid 6d per cent., and putting it down where it was most needed? The Minister of Defence and Minister of Public Works, through whose electorates this railway ran, would be the first to recognise the need of taking up this line and putting it where it was needed. (Laughter.) "I give vou this," concluded Mr Jull, "as my contribution to the ceremony."