RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9015, 23 August 1907, Page 1

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

« THE SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. ANOTHER DEPUTATION. [From Our Corrkspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 22. A deputation from Marl borough waited upon the Premier to-day to urge the •completion of the northern portion of the South island Main Trunk line. Tli© deputation simply i'ol lowed in the footsteps of previous deputations, and received the Game reply from Sir Joseph Ward. -Ur R. M'Callum said he recognised that the work had to be partially deferred in the past, but he contended that it was next in importance to 1 the North Island Main. Trunk line. Between Hedcon and Domett only five streams had to be bridged, and he suggested that this work should be put in hand at once. Such a policy would greatly assist the 6ettlers, and be a first : step towards the completion of the line. There was urgent need for railway communication between Christ-church and j Picton. I Another speaker pointed out that the 1 selectors of land on the Flaxbourne Estate had been led to believe, when they took up their holdings in 1905, that the railway would be constructed to the locality in which they lived in about two years' time. In consequence of the failure to do this the settlers had suffered great hardships. Mr Rutherford, M.H.R., also urged the completion of the railway between Seddon and Ward. This section was of the greatest importance at the moment, and iie was satisfied it would be >a paying line. The Premier, replying, said the Government recognised that this line was a colonial work. He repeated that the North Island Main Trunk line', which had to be completed, would take -a large proportion of the money available for railway construction. Until this line was finished the uses of the other railways were really only returning secondary benefits, and the Government could not make an exception of any other line in the colony until the rails were linked up. Little or nothing would be spent on the Midland tunnel this year, and the North Island Main Trunk would be out of the way next year. Every district that wanted a railway could quote arguments in favour of it. No district was in a singular position. The- Government could not possibly do all it was asked to do unless it went in for a loan of four or five millions per year. This would be a mad policy, and Would do an immense amount of ha-m to the country as a whole. ]n allocating the moiiey this year the Government would do its best. Its position was an exceedingly difficult one, and until the North Island Main Trunk line was out of the- way a large vote could not bo given for any line.