THE RAILWAY VOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 9

THE RAILWAY VOTES.

NORTH ISLAND AND THE SOUTH, IS THE ALLOCATION EQUITABLE? WELLINGTON MEMBERS' OPINIONS Throughout the North Island there is o, clearly-defined movement, with tho object of securing a fairor apportionment of' the annual railway votes. Chambers of Commerce, business men, and, the farmin'g community "appear to bo convinced that the North Island is : not receiving its fair share of the money voted for railway works for the whole of the Dominion, arid tliey aTe strengthened in. the protests that are j being made by the returns; 1 which clearly show ' how much ; better !results the North Island railways are showing for ■the capital invested than those of the South Island. AVitli 'a view to gauging the opinion of local members of Parliament ; on this important question, a Dominion representative waited on them, yesterday, and gathered the following interesting facts, and .opinions. MR. HERDMAN'S VIEWS. A RIDICULOUS POSITION. . | / On. being asked for his views on the . allocation of railway ; votes, -Mr. A. L. Ilerdman, M:P. for Wellington North,Baid: — , . . ■; ''A comparison > between the sum allotted for railway): construction in the South Island and the sum allocated for construction in 1 the North Island just to' - illustrate the soundness of the proposition that a. oonntry will' never, get justice when ' the management: of large sums, of money is .entrusted to unwise and 'incompetent administrators.- . "Personally, I hold that there never should be' any need for. a. battle over votes between the' North and' . South Islands.'. Tho Government, when asking the House to vote money for railway- construction should not consider the. North .Island specially, or '! the South Island particularly; but it should consider tho general good of the colony only

. • .■■• "In the.; amount voted for the. South Island,', there < .will .-.be includedj Ho doubt, ! a large, sum for the Christ-churdh-West \. Coast ..Railway, an undertalsing which can qiiite"well wait.', for .years).whilst there are many parts:of the/-North Island in ''which the need of development justifies, speedy' railway construction.- -. ,■■■;:'.■ -. ■"...■-. ■.

; ? ( 'There' will nevej; be a fair and sound allocation ..of public moneys ■. in : this country until.the huge power at :pre-. sent .possessed: by Ministers' is\ wrested' from them. I.think lam right-in saying that. the. Honse ; may to-day pass a vote .fora road near .the .North , Cape,: and; to-morrow the. Administration .in ; power may disregard the decision of the House, and ,employ v the' money in conEtructing 'a; road at V the Bluflt.; i The position /is ; not only : ridiculous, , but it .tends to establish that detestable state 6f..' : ,things .which both; parties-in -the 1 House^-of, Commons took good care'to guard against: in!the-pevelopment :i Billv" the .placing.; in. the : . hands of ;; a small • hand of Minister's :.power to purchase the favour-offconstituenciesi" !•;■■;■■?;■ '"■ .' ,inr>:-.-■'?■': .■:■'■ '*"-■. '-