SOUTH ISLAND LINE ATTACKED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19239, 28 November 1930, Page 8

SOUTH ISLAND LINE ATTACKED.

“ main trunk railway REGARDED AS JOKE.” Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 2S. Strong criticism of the Government’s policy in continuing the construction of the South Island main trunk was voiced by Mr N. G. Gribble, secretary of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League, on returning from an inspection of the work, including the route from Wharanui southwards. Mr Gribble described the Government’s policy as the consistency of fools. People who were supposed to be wanting the line knew perfectly well that the proposition was unsound. They awoke each morning pleasantly surprised to find the work unstopped. Some settlers he met regarded the whole thing as a big joke. Ilis observations showed that a considerable portion of the country was of the poorest possible quality. For many miles the railway track was laid on sandhills on which marram grass has been planted to prevent the track from being obliterated. Many culverts put in had already silted. lie doubted whether even as much as 10 per cent of the country to be served would yield any revenue to the railway. If the people of New Zealand could only visit the locality they would immediately demand a cessation of the work.