RAILWAY LINK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 70, 22 August 1947, Page 5

RAILWAY LINK

STATEMENT BY MINISTER ROAD TO BE IMPROVED An interview with the Minister of Works, Mr R. Semple, in Wellington on Friday, when the Minister promised to start work immediately on the northern and southern roads from Gisborne, was reported by the president, Mr T. A. N. Corson, at Friday night’s meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, states the Herald. He had also seen the heads of the Works Department and the Main Highways Board, said Mr Corson. In the meantime, Mr Semple had stated, nothing could be done regarding the northern railway from Gisborne owing to the shortage of engineers and surveyors. However, this would be given consideration as soon as the manpower was available.

Number one priority would be given to the roads leading to Gisborne, however. Provided the manpower and materials were available every possible effort would be made to give the district the improvements which had been asked for.

Mr Semple was definitely in sympathy with the requests of the district, said Mr Corson, and he believed that the district now had the oportunity of getting done the improvements for which they had asked so long. The possibilities of the manpower available in the district were reviewed by the national employment officer, Mr Chappelle. If the plant and machinery were in the district the department would find th,e manpower for the job, he said.