RAILWAYS MINISTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20638, 29 January 1937, Page 6

RAILWAYS MINISTER

INSPECTION OF SOUTHERN LINES By Telegraph—Press Association BLENHEIM, January 27. In continuance of his policy of familiarising himself with all railway lines in New Zealand, the Minister of Railways (Hon. D. G. Sullivan), who Is making his first official visit to Marlborough, travelled to-day from Picton by special train to Wharanui the southern limit at present of this section of the South Island Main Trunk. He was accompanied by Mr G. H. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, Dr. Marsden, Director of Department of Scientific and industrial Research, and Mr E. P. Meachen, M.P. At Wharanui the Minister visited the Public Works Construction Office where he met several officers of the Public Works Department. He was interested to learn incidentally that the office was built by Mr Meachen m 1931 when he engaged in carpentering work on the line. On the return journey the locomotive controls were taken over by the Minister himself, who drove the train all the way to Blenheim. After receiving deputations, the Minister and party left for Nelson. The Attorney-General (Hon. H. G. R. Mason), who also is visiting Blenheim, inspected the site where the erection of the new Courthouse has just been begun, before departing for Nelson. Ministers in the Marlborough territory to-morrow will be the Hon. R. Semple and the Hon. P. C. Webb, which, with the visit by the Hon. P. Fraser last week-end, makes five Ministerial visits in the course of a week.