LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 904, 25 August 1910, Page 7

LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH RAILWAY.

j. .' SHOUIjyiT BE CONTINUED?: ; ' , Some tiine.'.ago the Government re- ■'. cognising that, the Lawrencer-Roxburgh railway would not be a paying concern, •■■; but could only be run at a heavy.loss, '.. .. etopped/.the works. On -various occasions representations have -since been '.■ ; made,, to/ Government to resume work on., the line, .and yesterday a deputation called upon Sir Joseph Ward . ;•-; : and urged .the completion of the'line to ..'Beaumont. . -. '•■/■' ' ;'■-. 1 -.'■ .. Sir Joseph Ward said he was not an. ';.'..- \ favour of a line of railway staving where it would not produce anything. • . Notwithstanding what had been stated, ho believed the line would not be likely -to pay for some years. It should not, .'. however; be_ allowed to remain' in tho ~' worst position. When the Government •:., decided to stop itj the reports did not justify their, taking any other course. . The Government, however, was anxious to help the settlers, • and the position .'• was one'that would have to , bo faced. -.;.■ He "could not.make. an. off-hand pro- .-.';.■'. mise, except to '■say that ho hoped to • go. down, to the district and eee tho •..'•'■ position for.'.himself within the next !■'-■ ..three or.four weeks.' -He hoped to go ~ right on to Roxburgh. He had a feneral - knowledge-of-the country, but e wished to see the.position, and to loos at the surroundings generally.