LIVELY INTERVIEW.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 785, 7 April 1910, Page 5

LIVELY INTERVIEW.

ABOUT RAILWAY MATTERS. ' MINISTER AND MEMBER. 'A CHALLENGE AND A THEE AT. (By Teleeraph—PrcßS Association.) Auckland, April 6. A deputation frpm the Auckland Eailvays League waited on the Minister for Public Works (tlie Hon. E. M'Kenzie) this afternoon, for the purpose of, urging that the scope of the Royal Commission to be- set up to inquire into the proposed deviation north of M'CairoU's Gap on tlie North Auckland railway route • should, bo extended. so as. to- include an investigation into the proposed- deviation south of • M'Carroll's' Gap. ■ ,The proceedings were very lively. . Mr.. M'Kenzie declined to accede tp , the request, saying that it had. been made ; too late. •" ' ; ' :i ; " Mr. Mander,. 11.P., . challenged Mr. tM'Kenzie to prove that the western route swas the shortest, cheapest, and best, and . «aid ho would put up; .£IOOO if the chal- . flengo were; accepted. . . . A : took , place between Mfnder and the Minister, the latter to have the member for fllarsden ejected from the room.

ABOVE CRITICISM! \ EBMARKABLE SPEECH BY A ' 'MINISTER. ' JBy - Teloerarh.—Snccial CorresDondcnt) ;■ Auckland, April 6. A. somewhat remarkable statement was • made , by . the Hon. R.; M'Kenzie (Minister F, . t or^s ) at the conclusion (at i JW ni ght) pf : Monday night's banquet in «1S: foiiour at Wbangarei. " After refer'TPff to the fact that the Government in- : tended to pysh on the Scoria Flat-Kai-Kphe line as as possible, and that as. soon; the Kawakawa line was com.Boo or nieji engaged* oil it' would be" put on to the other section, he stated that the North Auckland 1 Main •Trunk Bail way.: was "being pushed "on by the South , Island than by Qneen Strept. They ; were, a meddlesome crowd there, he said, and when they met hyp. in regard to the deviation question he - would ;show them they, didn't, know their - -business. . There was . something • than on the- surface in tie attitude they we taking up, and the, people Jn the north; did not want their interference. The railway was .proceeding -northward all the time, and he did not be influenced in the'matter by certain Auckland The Minr : isters of the Crown knew their \york best, an<r did not/take any notice of the severe criticism they were constantly being subjected to .by people! who did not know '.wnat they were talking about. ' : v " RAILWAY EXPENDITURE, STATEMENT BY HON. R. ./■ . M'KENZIE. ' ■ Telegraph.—Press Association.) , • Auckland, April 6. , MT£enzie, Minister' for Public Works,-dealing with the allegation .of >unfair treatment of the North Island in the matter, of. railways expen- • o -A e ' P° out that .£72,000 of tho - bouth Island railways vote last year- was ;or .works completecTsomc time ago, and that ; for roads. last year th<s North Island was voted .£195,000 inoro than the bouth Island.-: The combined votes were* North Island, ,£635,750j South'- Island' . *4)03,743. .