RAILWAY CUTS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LII, Issue 44, 24 December 1930, Page 1

RAILWAY CUTS.

CONSTRUCTIONS TO CEASE. - ON Ft) UK LINES. NAPIEH-WAIHOA TO PHOC FED. WELLINGTON, Last night. Work upon, railway lines under construction in various parts of New Zealand, on \tfhieh over .C 1,400,900 has been spent, is to he stopped immediately. according to an announcement by the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. K. A. Hansom. This step is another of those being taken by the Government lo adjust the national finances. Of the sections under const motion, work upon three in the North Inland and one in the South Island will be suspended, and three in the North Island and two in the South Island will be carried to completion. As a result of the Government's decision, work will cease immediately as Jar as the North Island is concerned on the Okaihaii Hangiahua section of the North Auckland Main Trunk line, on the Tnngowahine-Dar-gavillc section of the Kirikopuni-Dar-gnville line, and on the WaikokopuGisborne section of the East Coast line. Work to he completed includes that on the Okahukura-Taliaroa section of the Stratford Main Trunk line, the Eskdalc-Wairoa part of the East Coast line, and the Tawa Flat deviation, in the South Island a stop is to be pul to operations on the Kawaliri-Inangnhua section of the Midland line, but the oilier two concerned, the South Island Main Trunk between Wharanui and Parnassus and the Westport-Inangahua line, will be completed. The adjustments following upon these decisions are that at the end of the financial year il is expected there will be an under-expenditure of £151,250 in the railway construction vote. Il is anticipated, however, that in the next financial year the provision for railway const ruction will be reduced by £020,000. EMPLOYMENT OF MEN. “In regard to the employment ol men who will no longer be required on construct ion work as the result ol the decisions of the Government, the Government has given instructions that as many as possible of the men now employed on the two North Island lines shall be offered work on the Arapiini hydro-elect lie repair works, which, as already announced by my colleague, the Minister ol Public Works, have been commenced and will gradually absorb a large number of men. “I am dealing in another statement with the alternative measures associated with land development and road works accessory thereto, and their relationship to the employment of men now on road and railway construct ion. 1 recognise the financial, industrial and political difficulties surrounding the decisions arrived at by the Government. Ministers have made an earnest attempt to face tin* position, and if their action is open jo criticism of delay, that was due in part to a determination to find a balanced solution of all factors, not the least being the factor of unemployment.’'