RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2636, 19 October 1909, Page 5

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS

{Per Press Association,! W—IINGTON, Oct. 18. Replying' to the Auckland., railway deputation on Saturday, the Minister for Public Works said he was sure that no one could object to the present rate of progress on those lines. A railway certainly was required on the East Coast, and it would be prosecuted as fast as funds would permit. As to the Stratfo rd -On game line, there were more men working on that section than on any other section in New Zealand. He believed that they would get within two miles of V liangamomona by next winter.

Another deputation waited on Sir Joseph Ward and the Minister of Public Works to urge that a branch railway line should be constructed so as to connect Kaetihi with the Main Trunk line. A trial survey has already been made. Messrs W. T. Jennings, R.'W. Smith, and W. H. Field, M.P.’s* introduced the deputation. It was suggested that the line should be constructed to a point about eight miles from the Main Trunk line. Mr. P. Brass explained that if the Government did not see its way to do wliat was asked on its own account, the settlers of the district concerned were prepared 1 to make ,a special rating area anti ,j>ay interest on the) cost of construction of the line. After hearing other speakers, Sir, Joseph Ward said that the Government was always anxious to help the settlers, but many things required, important from a local standpoint, were difficult to carry out from a public point of view. He promised that a report would be made on the suggested line, and then Cabinet would consider it. He ‘ wished to say, however, that Cabinet would not make sho-rt stumps of railway eight miles in length. While the settlers had been very magnaminous in their offer, he did not wish to send this deputation away believing what they suggested would be done. A special report would be prepared as soon as possible.

A STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY.

Replying to a deputation which, urged the Government not to stop. the construction of the Roxburgh .railway in Otago, the Premier stated that he wished to say clearly that it was not the intention of the Government to carry out railways which were not going to pay. He wanted to say this quite definitely. There was more than one railway in the country at the present time which was not paying. The Government did not want to extract anything to which they were not entitled from the peoplo. The Government was prepared to recommend to Parliament that this line should -be carried to Beaumont, but not to Roxburgh. This would give ailotlier opportunity. to see whether the railway would pay. The people interested; would be asked to pay the difference between 3 per oent and what the railway actually earned. The people ought to make up this difference. Looking at the railway system of the country as a whole, ho did not think that the Government should be. pressed into, the position of providing railways that were going to pay less than 3 per cent. That amount was not equal to the interest paid. The Government was anxious to help the people. If the people interested in this railway had faith, and were prepared to support that faith, the Government was anxious to help them. The Government expected the particular railway to pay 3 per cent, and they proposed to. ask Parliament to make such provision as would enable any shortage to be made up' apd the same principle would apply' to any other line asked to be constructed. ... - . After a good deal of questioning, Sir Joseph Ward said that lie was quite prepared to make the principle which he . had expounded apply .generally. The Government would accept responsibility for what it did. As ti> the suggestion that a light line of railway should be constructed, he maintained that the cost of construction in New Zealand was not excessive..'- If 701 b rails had originally been laid down a great deal of expense would have been saved. Further questioning did .not elicit any new facts, and the. deputation retired, on the understanding that it would' consider what the Prime Minister had said and later on announce what determination it had come to, or ' advance further arguments, it necessary. . .