A DEFINITE PROMISE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12755, 26 September 1919, Page 8

A DEFINITE PROMISE.

MAIN TRUNK RAILWAY. DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT. a [Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 26. A deputation representing all parts of Marlborough, with the co-operation of several Canterbury Members of Parliament, waited on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works uoday with reference to the South Island Main Trunk railway line. It was pointed out that the gap in the railway backbone of the Dominion from Auckland to the Bluff was onlv between seventy and eighty miles, this being the distance between +he >uvt. heads at Wharomu and Parnassus. The completion of the line would greatly serve to bring about increased production, and eventually would be necessary in the interests of New Zealand, from a strategical vie wpoint, haring rogaid to the fact that Picton was the natural terminus of the South Island system of railways and would probably be the site of a naval depot or base.’ Mr Massey replied that the war having ended, no other policy but a rigorous policy for development could” lie entertained by the Government. The first word in development was railway extension. He recognised the claims <Ji the line in question which would traverse good sheep and fruit country He promised that the deputation’s representations would meet with full justice. Sir William Fraser spoke of the difficulty of obtaining man-power. It was useless to talk of a progressive public works policy unless more people were brought into the country' and he advo. cated a. system of immigration, Komo money was going on the Estimates far the hue, and he would do all he could for parts of the line easy of construction, but he referred to Conway Gor;m as » very difficult problem.