SOUTHERN RAILWAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 279, 25 November 1931, Page 10

SOUTHERN RAILWAY

STOPPAGE or the WORK. BOARD’S DECISION UPHELD . ATTITUDE OF PRIME MINISTER. A defence of the decision of the Government to discontinue the construction of the South Island railway was Blade by the Prime Minister. Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, in Christchurch. One of the duties of the Railway Board, he Baid, was to report on lines under construction. It was felt that this board, being independent and without any political consideration, would be likely to give an impartial judgment. The board examined all the information at its disposal, he said, and came town with a unanimous decision that as hr as railway construction in this Country was concerned it should not go 4, 1 have beard some criticism with, regard to the South Island line/’ he <dded. “[ regret closing down that line, because 1 had much to do with the agitation for its construction, but I realise that with the conditions which wo are facing, the increased costs of construction (from £lO,OOO to £30,00U a mile) and with motor competition we were up against it. I realise that these things gave railway construction in this country a different aspect.” The view of the Bail way Board, he ■aid, was that there would be a loss ol something like £lOO,OOO per annum oh the line. When one realised the difficulties they had now to finance, one was »«ry loth to add another hundred thousand pounds to the burden of the taxpayers of this country It would not have been possible tu ’MH.se money for railway construction in C4.y part of the world, foi there v.a? not W railway anywhere that was paying, end to have attempted to raise money far such a purpose would have damaged the Dominion’s credit. “I know.” added Mr. Forbes, “it is • disappointment to a good many people who have been looking forward the railway being finished, but sendbie people will agree that where yn u Mve the judgment of a board that goes iwio the matter impartially the only •king to do was to bring the work to & standstill for the present at all event*. on, if we can afford it, we might •o on with the work.”