JUSTICE TO THE SOUTH.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14340, 9 July 1914, Page 5

JUSTICE TO THE SOUTH.

A MEMBER MAKES CONTRASTS. (By Telegraph .—Special to Herald.) WELLINGTON, July 8. Justice to the South Island was a theme which Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) dealt with in outspoken fashion in the House to-day. There were, he said, 1400 men employed on railway construction works in the North Island, and 625 in the South Island, or less than half. This was not fair. Six new lines had been authorised for the North Island, including one in tho Prime Minister’s own district, though the Wiuton-Heddon Bush railway, authorised in 1911, had not had a penny spent upon it. “This is unjust, and I stand here to ask for justice,” declared Mr Thomson, who asked by what right, Ministers should hold back the mouey authorised by Parliament. Their autocracy was proverbial. Tne Minister of Public Works promised to send a surveyor to survey the route of the Tuatapere-Orawia line, but ho had neglected to do so, though he sent a man to make a flying survey of a private line to a coalfield, and the gentleman who wanted it was to be a candidate for Parliament Was that treating the people fairly? Was that clean administration?” asked the Southern member, and lie was encouraged wit'n a chorus of “hear, bear's” from those around him.