SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18540, 10 April 1930, Page 8

SOUTH ISLAND RAILWAY.

MR COATES'S ATTITUDE. B, Telegraph - Pres, isolation BLENHEIM, April 9. The Hon. J. G. Coates’s condemnation in his Hastings' speech o£ the Government's railway policy is puzzling Marlborough people, who have been led to believe by his supporters that he has recently come to the decision that the South Island Main Trunk should be proceeded with. While Mr Coates, in the north, is reported to be condemning the railway project, Mr H. Holland, Reform member for Christchurch North, told a Kaikoura audience that he had conferred with his leader, and had been informed that no matter what party was in power the line would go on. MR COATES EXPLAINS. IMPARTIAL SURVEY REQUIRED. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 9. Commenting on the telegram from Blenheim, the Hon. J. G. Coates said members of the Reform Party, Mr Holland included, would remember that the attitude of the Party was clearly defined when the matter was discussed in the House last session. “So far as the South Island Main Trunk is concerned, the Party considers that if an impartial survey of tu*. case shows that construction can be justified, then the work would go ahead,” said Mr Coates. “But all the technical evidence clearly shows that great caution should be exercised as to the Midland line. I am definitely of opinion that construction work there should cease until a thorough investigation has been made, particularly of the effect of the recent earthquake, by which part of the route was badly shaken.” “We believe that before any new line is constructed,” Mr^Coates added, “a competent body of men should investigate all aspects in order to show whether or not a good road cannot, at this stage, economically serve the districts through which the railway is proposed to be built, in view of important bearing that motor traffic has upon transport at the present day. It is very desirable that proper investigation should be made in each case before plunging into heavy expenditures. In any case the country should be made aware of the position as to whether a profit or loss is to be faced by construction of any line.”