ABOUT RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13488, 31 July 1907, Page 2

ABOUT RAILWAYS.

. i .i .... j «> i i . . . A CANDID CRITIC. (Parliamentary Reporter.) » . ' WELLINGTON, July 30. The Midland Railway came , in^for gome caustic criticism during the debate on thd'Loan Bill tfcis afternoon. .Mr Lairxenl6n, memfeer for Lyttelton, Jiad <beeja< advocating with Mr HorriesCthe claims of the Gisborne to Rotorua railway, and; after outlming thegreat possibilities of that part' of the East Coast, he pointed pother Midland \ ', "Sir," he declared,.' 'that lipe ought never' to haVo beencommen6edt * It 'was a scandal' when it was commenced, ;<and it is a scandal itbat it has been allowed to reach its present stage. But, having reached that stage, 1 quite recognise it has'to^be brought to a paying point:." Thisi'i vigorous * was j^eeted, wi^t hearty < 'Hear, hears." IMTr Laurenson then began to^enl'arge on Gigborne*s* claims.' He said the jine referred tq by Mr J^erries^hpuld be^the first to be considered after the Main Trunk had been completed. He referred to an application made the othor-tlay for the extension -of. the .CJrilverden Jine to Waiau. "This," .he said, "wpuld only benefit three large estates. If railway were carriod a single step ther, it would' be nothing more nor'jless than a public scandal — (Hear, he|r)— <■' and I wiH 4<* all I call to prevent ,&ny such proposal until suph. time as k the Government acquires the large estates ir the track of the proposed line. I congratulate- the -Prettier oh the attitude he adopted towards the two 'railway deputations which waited on him yesterday."