RAILWAYS AND MOTORS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1930, Page 11

RAILWAYS AND MOTORS

LINES IN AUSTRALIA.VICTORIAN CABINET’S POLICY. The determination of the Victorian Ministry not to consent to the building of new railway lines or the extension of existing lines unless under guarantee that they would- not be subject to unreasonable competition from road transport was expressed by the Minister of Railways, Mr. Cain, recently, when replying to a deputation from the Riverina, which asked that-the Yarrawonga-Oak-lands line should be extended to Rand, New South Wales. Mr. A. R. Townsend said that the proposed extension would be 25 miles. Rand was 392 miles from Sydney, but only 213 from Melbourne. The harvest last season was 115,000 bags of wheat, compared with 32,000 bags in 1922. Mr. Cain said that there was no money available for the construction of new lines. The whole subject of the border railways had recently been discussed with the New South Wales Ministry, and last month the Premier, Air. Hogan, had received a reply from the Premier of New South "Wales, Mr. Bavin, stating that his Government could not give, consideration to the building of new lines for the present. Mr. Bavin said it had been also definitely decided by his Government that when the matter could. be considered n-3 railway work would be undertaken unless a definite guarantee against road competition was given. The attitude of the Victorian Ministry, .said Mr. Cain, was much the same, lie added.that the line 'to Rail'd' would...cost;;;£I00,000 to ;buikl, and neither tho people whom it (would serve nor the Government could jiffcjd such a price.