THE EAST COAST RAILWAY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3653, 14 October 1912, Page 5

THE EAST COAST RAILWAY

CESSATION OF WORK AT NAPIER. GISBORNE MEETING OF PROTEST GOVERNMENT’S ACTION STRONGLY CRITICISED. A. meeting to protest against the action of the Government in ceasing work at the Napier end of the Gis-bome-Napier railway was called by the General Laborers Union and held at the Sievwright Memorial on Saturday evening. Mr J. Mcßain presided anti there was a good attendance. Mr J. Bartlett said the citizens of Gisborne wanted to see this progressive work carried out, as it was very necessary, for it was part of a main trunk line and should be constructed as quickly as possible. One of the members in the House the other day asked, or wanted to, when the amendment to the Arbitration Act would be gone on with, and the Premier said that there was no hurry about it. This seemed to him (the speaker) to be the general policy the Government was pursuing. They had a vigorous immigration policy, - but they were all tips tim-e. reducing tlijp Government employees. The Premier had taken the portfolio of Labor, which he did not know anything about, and a more unsuitable Minister for Labor could not have been selected. He moved:

“That this meeting views with alarm the suspension of works atthe Napier end cf the Napier-Gis-borne railway and urges the Government to vigorously prosecute this work until both points are connected by rail.

Continuing his remarks, Mr Bartlett said that it had been stated that Labor was just now reaping its just reward, for it was responsible with others for the Conservative Government being in power to-day. There might be a great deal of truth in that, but when the next election came round they would find out that Labor was not out to assist the present Government.

“We have to protect the workers,” concluded Mr Bartlett, “and I hope you will carry this resolution.” Mr W. Rowell, in seconding the motion, said that Mr Massey, prior fo becoming Premier, had said that he intended to give the workers a fandeal. but they did not think, the Government's action in connection with the Napier-Gisborne line was a fair deal. He (the speaker) could not understand why the Chamber of Commerce had kept silent so long on this matter. They liad been considering the question of coastal freights, but this was a matter that was much more serious. This affected the workers and was of much more importance than Coastal freights and there should be some agitation on the point. Sir James Carroll had kept silent on this matter, hut Mr W. D. S. MacDonald deserved great commendation for the action lie had taken. Sir James Carroll had bec-n giving an exhibition of his histrionic powers by running round reciting Bracken’s “Not Understood.” but that- was not what he was paid for. It was about time he took a stand with Mr MacDonald regarding the railway. The co-operative system was an unqualified success as against the contract system. There were men in the country who had amassed large fortunes through the contract system of constructing railways, and they (the workers) held that that money ought to have gone into the Treasury and not inio the pockets of private enterprise. It had been said that the co-operative system in some cases had not been economical in public works, but that was due to the Department and their method of construction not to the workers. Mr D. IV. Coleman said that he heartily agreed with the previous speakers'? for the construction of this railway was of vital importance, not only to the workers, but to the whole district. They had citizens in this town who had the welfare of the town and district at heart and for many years had worked hard for this railway to connect Gisborne with the outside world. They had spent time and money in bringing this matter before the Government, and after a time they were successful in seeing it started/ At the turning of the first- sod at tne Napier end Sir Joseph Ward said the Government realised the necessity of the line and would push it on with all speed. Up to the present- the promise had-been fairly well kept, but a new Government now occupied the Treasury benches, and the work was going to stop. This was unfair to the workers, and to the district. The men stuck to their jobs through the winter when they could only make a little money, and now the fine weather had come -on they had to knock off. The Minister for Public Works had given four different excuses as to why this work had not been proceeded with and they would notice no two were alike. They were as follow : 1. The money can be better expended in making roads. 2. The work cannot be profitably gone on with because an engine cannot be taken to Westshore. 3. Tlie earthwork portion of the (line cannot be properly carried out until the bridge is built. 4. The work is stopped because ot the extravagant methods of construction which have been permitted. Continuing, Mr Coleman said none of them were proper excuses. The Labor Party was waiting till the Public Works Statement came down, and if it were not better than the Land Bill then the workers had little to expect. There 1 was only one way the workers in New Zealand could get justice and that was by organising. It had been said that Labor was to blame for the present Government, but when the next opportunity came it would not be a Liberal Government or a Conservative Government, but a Labor Government. Mr G. Inglis said Gisborne ought- to have been connected by rail years ago with Napier-. It was time that the citizens raised their voice in protesting against the action of the Government. Mr A. H. Anderson pointed out that about £15,000 had been expended on this line at the northern end and a

.similar sum at the southern end, and he also pointed out the quantity or matei-ial that would be thrown on one &ido to rust if the work were not proceeded with. The taxpayers were not receiving anything in return for the expenditure. The late Mr Seddon and i l party avoto often twitted bv t-lic present Government, tlien in Opposition, regarding the co-operative system on public works. They said it was used for vote-cateliing. There was a good deal of ground for that criticism, but the same . gentlemen nf/ero now : 'guilty' ’ of similar misconduct. In the time of Sir Julius Vogel contracts had been let for railways. One firm of contractors j paid from* 4s to 7s per day, and the men then had no unions to redress their grievances. Besides that a hnge immigration policy was pursued, and there was no work on the public works for tlics-o people. The mantle of Sn Rarrv Atkinson and Sir Julius Vogel had fallen on the present Prime Miniricher The Government had promised the workers a fair and square deal. What this was he coulcl not say, but within throe or four months of the Government’s coming into power, one of its actions had been to stop the main trun'k railway at one end, and probably work would be stopped at the Gisborne end. _ The. unemployed workers were flocking into Gisborne seeking employment. A huge proportion of the men from Napier would also come to Gisborne on account of the booming policy pursued by the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, and be hoped that body would find them work. The question of the railway affected the citizens of Gisborne, and lio hoped they would not let the matter rest till both points were connected by rail. It was strange that the other line running into Hon. W. H. Hornes' electorate was being pushed on as quickly as possible. It behoved the public of Gisborne to leave _no stone unturned to have tlie NapierGisborne line constructed. It should Ih> brought to a paying point if not completely finished. Tlie motion was then put and carried unanimously, and the meeting terminated.

A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, asking them to take steps to urge the matter along.