THE EAST COAST LINE.

Gisborne Times, 11 October 1912, Page 5

THE EAST COAST LINE.

WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENTS INTENTIONS ?

HON. W. FRASER DECLINES TO ANTICIPATE THE P. W. STATEMENT.

MEMBER FOR NAPIER HITS OUT BOLDLY.

PROPOSES VOTE OF CENSURE ON THE GOVERNMENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON. Oct. 10. Serious concern was shown in the House of Representatives this afternoon by members whose electorates lie along the route of the East Coastrailway. Apparently there is a possibility ’of work being stopped at the AVailii end; operations are hampered at Gisborne for want of an engine, and all the men have been dismissed at Napier. Air Brown (Napier) gave notice to move: x “That in view of the satisfactory results that have accrued, both to the workers and to the country from the co-operative system of railway construction, and the urgent necessity that exists for opening up fur- ~ ther land for settlement by vigorously continuing the construction of railways through otherwise inaccessible country suitable for pastoral and agricultural occupation. The fiction of the Government in suddenly discharging a large number of co-operative workers from the existing railway construction work calls for the censure of this House.” Air H. Polland (Ohinemuri), asked the Minister for Public Works whether it was true —as had been reported to him that it was the intention of the Government to cease work on the AYaihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast railway. He believed that this information had emanated from the overseer at present of the works. He had also been informed by a private citizen that this was being done to assist the AVailii Alining Companies to get liien for their works. Hon. AAk Fraser (Minister for Public Works) said it was rather amusing how just before the Public AVorks statement came down a lot of members wanted to know wliat was in it. The Public AA T orks statement would contain information as to what the Government would do about this and every other railway, and it would almost certainly be down next week. In the meantime he refused to deliver the Public AVorks'statement piecemeal and no Alinister could he expected to answer sucli a question as that put by the member for Ohinemuri. ‘ Air Pavne: The question is, are you deliberately helping the Waihi mine owners ? Air Fraser said he wished to give the statement that men were being put off the works to help the Waihi mine owners an emphatic denial. Hon. R. AlcKenzie (Motueka) said the answer given by the Minister would not satisfy workers who were being dismissed from co-operative works all over New Zealand. He did not expect the Alinister to declare his Public Works policy, but the people were getting anxious as to what it really was. Were men being dismissed from works in order to glut the labor market ? He asked the Prime Alinister jocularly whether- he- would consider Mr Brown’s motion a no-confidence motion. Hon Mr Massey (Prime Minister) said that if the motion of the member for Napier were approved by the Leader of the Opposition, he (Air AfasSey) would have no objection to treating it as a no-confidence motion. Sir J. Carroll (Gisborne) asked the Alinister for Public ' AVorks whether lie would expedite the work on the Gisbonie-Alotu section of the EastCoast rail wav. If the ballasting was to go ahead with any despatch a stronger engine was very much required. It was a matter of great importance and the- work should not he delayed. „ _ , H'on. Air Fraser (Minister for Public AVorks) said the question of providing a heavier engine for the construction works on the Gisborne-Alotu line was a. matter that had been under his notice for some time, and lie had endeavored to do the best possible. The Public AVorks Department did not keep a stock of engines. If the public AVorks Department had another heavier engine the work could certainly be done much more expeditiously than at present. The Railway Department had been asked to supply another ' engine, but unfortunately the Railway Department was so short of engines that they could not spare- one for the works at Gisborne. He had arranged with the Minister for Railways to have ballast taken a distance up the unopened line by the Railway Department’s heavy engine, a fid the light engine would have to do the rest. The Railway Department hoped to have a spare engine at the end of j t] ie V ear. The real fact of the matter was" that the settlers in the district had quite excusable desire to use the line for goods traffic and they wanted the engine to make that possible. The Public AVorks Department could not get an engine that would be strong enough for the work required. Hon. R. McKenzie (Motueka) asked whether any change had been made from th© system in vogue during his administration. ' Hon AV. Fraser -said that when he took office lie found a light engine only on the line, and he had made no change whatever in the methods of working. It was because the light engine could not draw a of trucks over the line that ho had made an arrangement to have ballast carried some distance by the Railway , Department’s engine. Mr J. Vigor-Brown (Napier) said he intended to introduce a Bill entitled “The Co-operative Workers’ Bill.” Of course Air Brown is too old a Parliamentarian to entertain a hope of getting his Bill through. He has not drafted any more than the title of it •yet, hut he will no doubt discuss the general question of railway construction when lie introduces the Bill.