S.I MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18412, 19 June 1925, Page 8

S.I MAIN TRUNK LINE.

MONSTER DEPUTATION PROPOSED. CANTERBURY ASKED TO LEAD. (SPECIAL TO "THE phbss.") BLENHEIM, Juno 18.

At the annual meeting of the Marlborough Progress League, the following resolution was carried:— "That a letter be sent to the Canterbury Progress League advising that this League notes with great satisfaction the resolution passed by the Canterbury League in reference to the 1 Now Zealand main trunk railway; and | that it be suggested that the procedure to obtain the approval of the Govern- | ment be as follows: —(1) That all memibers of Parliament be asked to support [ the proposal; (2) that all Progress Leagues, Chambers of Commerce, local bodies, and other public bodies through- ! out New Zealand be requested to support the proposal; (8) that a great deputation be organised to wait upon Cabinet before the session concludes, ''such deputation to comprise representatives from all the local authorities throughout New Zealand in support of the scheme, and that it bo suggested that a short conference he held between the members of this League and those of the Canterbury League, Wore the' deputation proceeds . to Wellington, so "as to organise and arrange the presentation of the claim." Mr Churchward said no time should bo lost in pressing forward the claims of the line, and as a preliminary the Marlborough League's Railway Committee would like the Canterbury Leaguo to send circulars to every public body in New Zealand inviting them to take part in the movement. As soon as replies were received, a deputation should wait, not upon the Minister but , upon the whole Cabinet, because as far as he was aware, the matter wa? as big a one as had ever been brought forward by a single deputation. The organisation of the deputation would bo a matter of further detail, but ho thought that a move on the broad principles ho had outlined would have a good effect. Ho thought, and the Rail>ay Committee agreed with him. that as Canterbury had taken up the project SO thoroughly, it should bo asked to retain the leadership, as it represented more bodies than the Marlborough League and was equally interested. Mr R. I<\ Coulter said it was possible that as a result of the proposed de-; putatbn the Government would undertake to complete the survey of the line, ns this was ono of the first steps. But he thought they,should not content themselves with a Government promise to complete the survey. There was no reason why actual work should nob be resumed between Wharanui and Kaikoura, where tho survey had already been made. This work should be going on while the survey of the rest of the line was being completed. Addressing the meeting at the invitation of tho president, Mr H. Holland, of the Canterbury Progress League, said he thought the arguments of the Canterbury and Marlborough Railway Committees in favour of the completion of tho lino as part of the main trunk were unanswerable. He had been glad to catch the suggestion of Mr Churchward that the initiative in future should be left to tile Canterbury League, for unless it was definitely understood which body intended taking the lead, there might be a misunderstanding and valuable time might bo lost. He considered that all efforts should be concentrated on the completion of the main trunk between Parn&siis and Wharanui, because to ask for money for both this lino and the West Coast connoidon would be simply to court disaster.