THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7667, 28 March 1903, Page 4

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.

Speaking to a representative of the ':;. "Star" the other day, tha Hon W. HallJones was most emphatic in his declaration of opinion that the Midland Railway should be pushed' through, and he an nounced his firm' intention of seeing that the work was prosecuted with as much vigour as possible. This, despite the protest of the Otago members that their own Up-country line was of quits as great im- • portance. As tho Minister pointed cut, the Midland Railway, when completed, will .give the West Coast, with its large popu- ■■•;■; lation, a reasonable outlet, and will pro"y" vide communication with the other parts of the colony for an important district, . which has long been handicapped with disabilities in this respect. The revival of interest in railway matters now that the session is approaching has once more raised V the old bitterness between the 'north and ,;■ the south concerning the respective merits _ of the Midland Railway and the Otago -.Central line. The principal argument in favour of a continuance of the Otago line , appears to be that the Midland Railway .'■; is not wanted. At least this is the wail that rises every time 1^ comparison between the two lines is instituted. As to whether either line should ever have been started is now a question which it is useless to discuss. Most of the political visitors to the respect: vs districts adopt the comfortable attitude of assuming that they . should not have been started. This is a *afs position to take up, because it com- , mits nobedy to anything, whilst it suggests at the same time that the standard of political -wisdom of to-day is much su- . perior to that of a generating ago. But all are unanimous upon at any rate one ' point, and that is the present necessity for the continuance of the Midland Railway to a paying point. The Hon C. H. Mills, , who is the latest Minister to inspect, the • line, has now added his testimony to that of others, and it may be confideritly anticipated that there will be a substantial rrjts for tbes prosecution of this railway when the Public Works Statement is . brought down.