PLAIN TALK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 890, 9 August 1910, Page 5

PLAIN TALK.

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE. PREMIER SAYS BORROWING MUST BE KEPT DOWN. DEMAND FOR PUBLIC MONEY.' Plain talk regarding the amount of!' , money available for expenditure on public works this year characterised the reply which tho Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) made to a numerous deputation: : that waited upon him yesterday to urge the necessity for the speedy completion: J of the South Island Main Trunk railway. The deputation consisted mainly of members of the South Island Main Trunk' Hallway League, chiefly from Marlborough and Christchurch, also representatives of tho Wellington.. Chamber of and quit© a number of members of Parliament. Among the speakers was Sir C. C. Bowcn (Speaker of the Legislative Council). Tho Hon. R. M'Jienzio (Minister for.Public Works) was also present. . ; . .' ',;:'" In tho course of-his reply, Sir Joseph Ward said he did not wish the deputation to go away with a wrong impression, so ho would tell them the exact, position-. At, the very lowest estimato the ,line • would cost .£1,300,000; probably it would run into ,£1,000,000. .Therefore, when the deputation were asking the Government to complete the lino within, five or 6ii years they were asking for an cxpendi-. ture of from .£300,000. to .£400,000 a year: He would tell them,at once that such aa expenditure was impossible. It was ne- , cessary for him to say that as ho did ' not want to mislead tho deputation. Their wishes could only be acceded to if the country determined to borrow a sum of money that he (Sir Joseph) thought it would be very imprudent for it to do. Tho other alternative was to.stop other lines authorised and going on in other parts of the country, which of course could not bo considered. They must re*cognise the limitations ( of this country': from year to year in regard to its railway construction policy. As a' matter of commercial policy it would no doubt be better to finish tnu line in twolve mentis' because tho. sooner it was finished • the sooner it would be paying. They wero providing railways for a country of tho size of the United, Kingdom, and mom-: bers representing their constituents were pressing on all sides for expenditure. If the Government were to yield to this pressure, instead of borrowing only £1,750,000. they would require to borrow ten millions aterling a year. Tho Government could not do that, for the reason that it was impossible. ■ •.-.;-.■■.. . He recognised that it iras a proper thing to complete this line—(hear, hear) —but tho question as to how rapidly they.. could do it must be controlled by the '• limitations iu regard to-borrowing, and.the allocations for other parts of the Dominion. The country should recognise . also that prior to the rapid prosecution of this line, there should be the acquisition of certain landed estates that would benefit by its construction. That from the financial point of view in itself meant a very big undertaking. Tho Government were keeping these two matters before them.' If, therefore, they pushed on the line,, with extreme rapidity they would penalise future settlers , by the greatly enhanced value put upon the lands, ulpng tho line. They had to keep before them the fact, that, the acquisition of these estates would.mean several hundred thousands as part of-tho policy 1 of the country.. The Government, however, , would: place on tho Estimates this year ,a fair amount, and he could not do more than say that the representations of tho depu- , . tation wosld have the.,fullest consldcra,; tion of tho Government when it was allocating the public works expenditure. The Government would bo'just as puzzlcdi how they could' allocate the money as the deputation would probably be disappointed .with' tho amount they would find upon the Estimates for the railway this year. He wanted to tell them that, and to tell them frankly. The applications for public works this year amounted to from .£12,000,000 tc, ,£15,000,000. and the amount available , was; ,£2,200,000. The applications would havo to be reduced to the latter amount. The Government conld not say that, auy particular line should', take the most of that, and tho rest bo neglected. Last year, apart from the Waiau Bridge, .£45,000 was voted, and ,£50,34<]: had Ireen spent. Hβ quite agreed that the; name of the line should be.changed from the Blenheim-Waipara line to the South Island Trunk Railway. As to the control of theiPicton wharves, about which re-; presentations had been made, he would consult with the Minister for Railways.