RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 288, 6 December 1901, Page 3

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

THE MINISTER IN EXPLANATION. [, PBB PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, December 5. { Mr FowloV, M.8.R., hag received a] telegram from the Minister of Works > re railway works, stating there is no denial that men have been disposed with, but the number discharged from tKo north end of the Main Trunk- " is not nearly so gnat as you men'ion, and with very few ex< options, ail those put off were single men. I r < is not unusual to reducn hands during the summer months, when there aie so many opportunities for men to oStain other employment. I cannot understand the absurd statements that have been made concerning this matter. 0* eof the wildest was attributed to yourself I that- it was for want of funds. We have bfen making pood progress on the : Main Trunk, and I intend, as far as the voto will permit, to make further good progress, and can do s \ Nore of th<B nonsense that has app-ared will pat me off the track." j Mr Fowlds telegr-phed to th* Minis-, tar as follow* :—" Your rorly to my \ telegram roakrs confusion Wuise cod-: founded. No fane man or Mi>is'er, ! which I have always taten you 'o be, would seriously advise tbf.trr>en should | be allowed to walk abrutin Mlenessi during the summer, when thn'r work is worth so much more, and b« em-' ployed knee-deep in mud during winter, unlets there was a tijjh ne<s somewhere. Your contention that I overstated the number discharged when I said nearly 300 is only a quibble when we know the number is over 250. Although vou knew my anxiety to know whether the same proportion of men had ben dismissed down south, your telegram contained only vague suggestions. I don't think your explanation is by any meins satisfactory. In aoy case, the almost complete stoppage of wtrk rn the Main Trunk is not an benestway ofcarryicg out the repeated pledg<s of the Government to have the line completed as early as posHbl*.