RAILWAY DEVIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 243, 14 October 1936, Page 8

RAILWAY DEVIATION

WORK AT TURAKINA AUTHORISATION BILL HOUSE PASSES MEASURE ll’er Press Association] WELLINGTON, Oct. 13. In the House of Representatives tonight, Hon. R. Semple moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill. He said it was quite an innocent little measure, it proposed to do something tnat had been talked about for 3U years —the deviation 01 the railway line to New Plymouth at Turakina. He said the time had arrived for the Government to make a general survey of the railway and reading system of the Dominion to find the weak links and deal with them as speedily as possible. The cost of tTie job was £SUO,OOU and he outlined the benefits that would accrue to the railway system by the deviation. Hon. G. W. Forbes asked if the cost of the work was to be added to the railway capital. He said the House had been told that the saving in maintenance and running costs would be £4OOO a year, but interest at 3 per cent, would be £IS,UpO, so there would be a loss of £lO,OOO a year. Mr. Semple: Half of the money will be found out of the Unemployment Fund. He added that the whole interest burden would not be placed on the railways and anyway a better service would be provided. Work had to be found for the unemployed, and if the money were not spent there it might be spent on some less useful work. No additional burden would be placed on the Railway Department as a result of the deviation. Mr. Ormond Wilson (Govt. Rangitikei) said that the railway, when built, was put in the wrong place, and it would now be put in the right place. Mr. W. J. Polson (Opp. Stratford) said the work was fully justified and one of its values would be the improved alternative route to Auckland, as it involved a climb of 900 feet, compared with 2600 by the Main Trunk. Members of neighbouring electorates spoke in support of the deviation. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Opp.. Riccarton) said it appeared that the day of political railways had not come to an end. An over-capitalised railway system was to be still further capitalised to the extent of £250,000. He did not know how long the country could stand up to the strain. He was surprised at members, after the protests that had been made in the past, supporting money from the unemployed funds being used on capital works. Mr. Semple said the Labour Party had never objected to unemployment funds being used for the benefit of the nation or for the purpose for which it was gathered, but did object to subsidising buildings for large insurance companies. He admitted that if the unemployment position was not what it was this work would never have been tackled. The second reading was carried and the Bill was put through committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 10.15 p.m.