THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1919, Page 4

THE RAILWAYS.

NEW WORKS AUTHORISED. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives to-day, Sir William Eraser moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill. He explained that two railways in the schedule were placed there improperly and he proposed to strike them out in committee. Mr. Witty asked how many new lines had been authorised and not started. The Minister replied two. Mr. Wilford urged the Minister to add authorisation for a deviation of the Wellington-Wairarapa Railway via Wainuiomata. This was a matter of New Zealand importance owing to the expensive business of running trains over the Rimutaka incline. The removal of the difficulties of transport between Wellington "and Wairarapa would solve the problem of the city's milk supply. Mr. McCallum supported Mr. Wilford's plea, adding that wealthy landowners in the district affected should contribute to the cost. Mr. McCombs asked why an improvement of the Christchurch railway yards and the duplication of the Lyttelton Tunnel, money for which was already authorised, had not been pushed on. He urged the electrification of the Christ-ehurch-Lyttelton line as a matter of a most urgent character. The reduction on the running cost would pay more than 12J per cent, on the cost of the electrification of the line.

Mr. Hornsby pointed out that a report tabled twenty years ago showed that a deviation of the Wairarapa line, if made then, would have shown three per cent, profit in running. The housing of railwaymcn at Cross Creek was a serious menace to health, and improvement was urgently needed. The construction of the Featherston line should be pushed on so as to assist the development of a valuable area of the Lower WairarapaValley. The Hon. A. T. Ngata pleaded for consideration for districts not already served by any railways. He referred specially to the districts that would be served by the East Coast and Bay of Plenty Railways. He feared that large authorisations in the older districts would prejudice the chances of speedy progress with the lines in new country. The district he represented was one of the richest in New Zealand, yet probably the least known.

Mr. W. H. Field, referring to the projected deviation of the North Island Main Trunk Railway by way of the beach between Paekakariki, urged that if this was done the old route should be utilised for an ordinary traffic road. Sir William Fraser, replying, said there was no record of the Wairarapa deviation mentioned by Mr. Wilford, but the Minister had had surveys put in hand He hoped the report would be available shortly that would decide the vexed question of route.

The second reading was carried, and, in committee, the Minister moved the deletion of the authorised extension of the Te Roti-Opunake line to make a connection with the railhead at Moturoa, New Plymouth; also the Kaihu Valley Railway terminating at Dargaville. With this amendment, the Bill was reported, and was read a third time and passed.