S.I. MAIN TRUNK.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18405, 11 June 1925, Page 10

S.I. MAIN TRUNK.

EARLY COMPLETION URGED. PROGRESS LEAGUE SUPPORT REPORT. The report of tho special committee set up by the Canterbury Progress League to report on the comparative suitability of the East Coast (Whara-nui-Parnassus) and West Coast (Glen-bope-Inangahua) sections of uncompleted railway to serve as links in the Dominion Main Trunk line, and the commercial developmental possibilities, immediate and prospective, of the more suitable route, was discussed at last night 's meeting of the executive of the League. The report was snbmitted to last month's meeting of tho League, and a resum§ was published in "The Press," but discussion was deferred until last night. The investigation of the questions above referred to arose out of a request last year by .. the Marlborough Progress League for the Canterbury League's support in urging the Government to complete the South Island Main Trunk line at an early dato by constructing the section between Wharanui and Parnassus—a distance of 81 miles. The eommittee set up to enquiro into the matter' consisted of Messrs H. H. Smith (chairman), A. McKellar, W. H. Nicholson, H. E. Best," J. K. McAlpine, and P. R. Olimie (secretary). Public Opinion.

A report was submitted to the meeting by the organiser, Mr P. E. Climie, on the expression of public opinion on the committee's report. In dealing with newspaper opinions, the report stated: " 'The Press,' while commenting in a friendly tone, took up the-position that' the success of the East Coast line could not be demonstrated by any evidence that could be collected in advance, and that any such report as that which the committee had prepared must leave things 'as they were.' This journal also expressed scepticism regarding any general patronage of the East Coast railway, and a railway ferry so far as traffic between Lyttelton and Wellington is concerned, on the ground that the existing steamer service is so comfortable, fast, and convenient. The committee's contention that experience in New Zealand, as in other countries, has shown that the railway always beats the ship for passenger traffic, was dismissed with a remark to the effect that such analogies could' not be accepted unless there was complete correspondence of conditions."

In a summary of general : public opinion the report stated that the com- ■ mittce could take, credit for having protected itself by the thoroughness-of its investigation against any really damaging and destructive criticism of its work. Its facts had not been .; challenged in any single instance. Those who advocated the East Coast routes and who would like to see the committee's views gain acceptance, had the consolation that .almost all the arguments—as distinguished from bare assertions—that had been brought to bear against the committee's finding, K would bear with equal or greater force against a decision in favour of the NelsonWest Coa.st route.. Bleport Discussed. ' ■& - . . • ;.'.■'.' In discussing' the report last night, the chairman; Mr J". H. Blackwell, moved: "That in tfie opinion of; this League the completion of the New Zealand Main Trunk Eailway by filling the' gap between Wharanui and Parnassus is-urgently necessary, in the interests of the railway service as a whole, and essential to the proper development and progress of the Dominion; that the Prime Minister be urged to give the earliest possible consideration to the recommendations contained in the report, particularly in the 1 matter of. completing surveys of the section referred to; and that copies of the report bo forwarded to all members of the .League, and to Ministers, members of Parliament, and public associations throughout : the Dominion.' * .In speaking to themotion) fie said that, members, of the executive must feel impressed with the -thorough and painstaking manner* in which members of the . committee had . made their investigation. . They must be impressed with the clear wish of committee to avoid acting as advocated'for any particular route. He proceeded to discuss the report in detail and stressed the shortness of the East Coast route as compared with that of the West Coast. The speaker,- also pointed out the comparison which had been made of the relative values of the land which would be opened up by the different routes. The people iu Marlborough thought that the estimates of revenue production of the proposed East Coast railway were too conservative and the speaker also held this opinion. Taking matters as a whole he was of the opinion that they had not any idea of the tremendous advantages which would accrue to Canterbury through the completion, of the East Coast main trunk line, and he thought it was the duty of the League to give the project their wholehearted support., Mr W. G-oss seconded the motion and also expressed the opinion that the East Coast project should be supported. The extra distance which the West Coast route meant put that line out of court altogether. Naturally the Nelson people would wish to see the West Coast route completed and the speaker thought that that line should certainly be completed in due course. He thought, too, that Nelson should be connected with Pieton by rail, and he felt sure that if the East Coast route were com-, pleted this would be done before long. Mr H. H. Smith, chairman of the committee, said that when tho committee had been set up it had been decided that no member of it should express an opinion on either routes until their report was submitted to the League. Members also decided to approach the (matter with an open mind, and not take into consideration any previous comments on either of the routes. The committee also had decided to deal with the matter as a main.trunk railway, and not as a, sectional extension. With regard to the report of the Government Railway Commissioners on tfte. subject, the speaker stated that the basis- of the committee's findings had been set out before . the Commission's report had been brought down, and it was exceedingly gratifying to find that the committee's ideas on the subject had been supported by those of such a prominent railway man as Sir Sam Pay. Speaking of the criticism which had been levelled at the committee's report, he said that a finding on such a subject was bound to meet criticism. Had the West Coast route been selected it, too, would have met criticism. Mr A. McKellar said he had not much to add to the remarks which : had been made by the previous speakers. He wished to impress on members that the report was a very conservative one. The speaker referred to the great blocks of country which would be opened up in the Clarence Valley by the East Coast line. He considered it the duty of the League to assist fi& Marlborough people and leave no stone unturned in helping to have the line completed. .-'■-.-

Finding Criticised. Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P.,' said that the committee had brought out an unanswerable case so far as .the completion of the East Coast railway was concerned. However, ho was one of those who wished to see both lines gone on with immediately. He did not think that the Leaguo should practically recommend that the West Coast route be dropped for the time being. Tho Nelson people wanted the West Coast route linked up for the same reason as Canterbury had wished Canterbury and the West Coast to be linked up. A good deal could be said about, construction methods used by the Government. The present Government had practically dropped-all railway construction m the South Island, he said. Referring to the West Coast route, he contended that it would .be unwise to put the West Coast line through-only to Murchison, and he contended that it should be completed in order to link Nelson up with all the timber and coal-bear-ing districts which were at present 'untouched by railway. In conclusion he considered that, the League, although favouring the East Coast route, should, at., the same time, not. throw a cold blanket on another route in 'which people of another province were vitally interested. An Engineer's: Opinion. . Mr H. M. Chrystall, consulting engineer, who was the official photographer for" the committee, said' that there, was no doubt that the completioa of the railway was of importance to the South Island.. It was very hard for any engineer to say exactly what the '. work would cost. The . Government hau apparently made the estimate without making a survey of a good-part of it. It was essential that a complete survey should be made of the route. , The East Coast route was through fairly .open country, but tho only thing that would justify the West Coast route would be a Wellington .where Nelson was, and a Christchurch where Westport was, tlie constructional difficulties being . .so great. He thought that the Government estimate was an exaggeration, and there seemed to be - some political . influence behind it. Mr J. K. McAlpine gave a brief description of the work of the committee, a,nd said that in.no case had members raced over the,route and. viewed it from: a oar travelling at!3o miles an hour: They did.noj; base their opinions on those of. locai sections along the route. Moreover the committee did not bias its,report.in.favour of the East Coast route.- It had visited and. carefully investigated the jWfest Coast routo arid had naked the people of Nelson to giive them facts and. figures that'the' West Coast route was the more, advantageous. They had not- been able-to do this, and could:not tell where the railway was. going to go. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.,. said that the League must he careful not to allow the : discussion oh the different routes to devolve into a controversy as to which was the better and thus give /the Government an .'excuse for doing nothing in either case. It would be necessary, as it was, to display the greatest energy in order to get the Government to do anything in the- matter at all. He ' BR,id the Government at present was hostile to the project and they needed all the help and co-operation possible to get the people in Wellington to go on with the matter. Mr H. H. Holland said that the committee could not have "brought down a different report. The committee had been a little optimistic in hoping that one-third of the ferry passengers would be deflected. His . sympathies were rather with Mr Armstrong's.idea, and he thought that a great deal could he said for the West Coast route. ■:

The chairman said that the report bf the committee was in, no way antagonistic, the completion of the West Coast route, but the data, obtained was. overwhelmingly in' favour of the East Coast route.

Messrs R. Galbraith, G. H. Holford. W. T. Lester, E. H. Wyles, and J. E. Strachah supported the reports The motion was carried unanimously and it was decided to place on record the League's appreciation of the work of the committee.