GISBORNE RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19599, 11 June 1935, Page 6

GISBORNE RAILWAY.

“ NO CAUSE TO STAMPEDE.” UTMOST POSSIBLE BEING DONE. NAPIER, Monday. “ In my opinion there is no cause to stampede in this matter. A very large sum of money is Involved, and 1 am quite convinced that the actingPrime Minister, Sir Alfred Ransom, ■the Hon. R. Masters, and also the RtHon. G. W. Forbes and the Rt- Hon. J. G. Coates in London, have done and arc doing their utmost to gather all information in connection with the matter,” said Mr G. 0. Morse, Mayor of Napier and chairman of the South-ern-East Coast Railway Committee, on his return from Wellington. He was replying to a (statement made by Mr W. D. Lysnar, who conducted the negotiations to complete the NapierGisborne line. < Mr Morse said he was present with Mr Lysnar and with Mr J. Jackson, chairman of the Southern Railway Investigation Committee, when the deputation waited upon Sir Alfred Ransom and Mr Masters in Wellington. Personally he left the meeting fully convinced that both Minister’s had done their utmost and that the utmost possible was being done in London by the Prime Minister himself and Mr Coates. STATEMENT BY COMMITTEE.

POSITION OF MR LYSNAR. GISBORNE, Monday. An official statement Issued on behalf of the Gisborne Railway Committee concludes with the following sentence: —“The committee desires to make it clear that it has not been advised of the terms of 'Mr Lysnar’s offer and has no knowledge of the exact position, but the public may rest assured that the committee will lose no opportunity of promoting completion of the railway.” The statement explains that the committee had opposed any option being granted to a private individual for exploitation, and refused to acquiesce in an option being granted to Mr Lysnar when, prior to his- departure for London, lie- intimated that lie was in touch with a financial group there. When it was reported that the Government had granted an option to Dir Lysnar, the committee telegraphed to the Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, and received an assurance that no such action had been taken.