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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1528, 26 August 1912, Page 5

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»-— SOUTH ISLAND AIAIN TRUNK/ COMPLETION URGED. PRIME MINISTER INTER* VIEWED. Tho expeditious completion of tho South Maud Main Trunk railway, of which about 85 miles remain to bo constructed, was hi god by a deputation representing local bodies and branches of tho South Island Main Trunk Railway League, from J'lctou to Christchurch, which interviewoil tho Prime Minister on Saturday morning. TIiop!) prrcont included tho Ifon. W. W (Minister for Public Works), Mr. \\. D. S. Mnc.louald, Die Hon. It, M'Kenzie, Sir Joseph Ward, ami the following members of Parliament: Messrs. G. W. Forbes otid R, M/Callum (who introduced tho deputa! ion), G. W. Russell, H. Atniore, T. 11, Davey, and G. Lanrenson. Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P., was unavoidably absent. A National Undertaking. Jfr - !"[• J. Marrmor (Canterbury Chamber of commerce), who was tho principal speaker, said that tho South Island Main trunk line had not received the consideration jn tho past, to which it was entitled ?? m " atlollal undertaking. Sir William UaU-Jones had promised that if tho South Island people were considerate and waited until tho North Island Main Trunk line had boon completed, tho Department would bond all its energies in completing the South Island lino. Meeting a deputation in 1010, Sir Joseph Ward had gono back on the position taken up by his predecessor, stating that branch iines and feeders in the North Island would have to V? . con! ; llip i'<!J before the South Island Main linak line. They asked that tho wliolc of tho work should be now authorised. Co-operative Works Condemnod, "t, 1 * sir," Mr. Marriner concluded, that Cabinet will take into consideration tlio abandonment of the co-operative- system of works. I feel that if this line had been mado by smoll contracts of 6ve to ten miles (ho money would have been spent to better advantage." Mr G. W. Russell: Are you speaking personally or as head of the deputation? Mr. Marriner: As head of the deputa- . Mr. Russell: Has the deputation authorlsed that request Mr. Marriuer: Yes. A Neglected Province. ~M . r- R. F. Goulter (Marlborough) saiil tuat tho railway would pav as a local line, from Christchurch to Kaikoura, and tram Blenheim to Kekorangu. Marlborough was one of three provinces not connected with the Main Trunk system, and- on that account deserved consideration. It would not be of much use to open up tho land that awaited settlement until communications had been provided, Ijo endorsed Mr. Marriner's remark as to tlio co-operativo system. Tho estimated cost of tho Elaxbourno section by contract had been .£SOOO a mile. Actually it had cost doublo that amount. Mr. J as. Davidson, representing tho Kaikoura branch of (he South Maud Mam Trunk Railway League, raid that itwould bo in tho interest of tho Dominion as a whole to complete the line. It had I been said that Kaikoura had a very snia volume- of exports. Christchurch Manufactures. Mr. J. J. Holland (Mayor of Chris) church) said that Christchurch mnmifiu hirers felt that they were -lnbWin under a hardship in having to export im plements to Wellington, to bo trail shipped to Picton, nnd then sent inlam from there. Only three miles per anmni of this railway had been built for tho las four or five years, so that it would Ink twenty years to complete tho lino ot th present rate, of progress. Opinions of Ex-Ministers. Sir Joseph Ward said that ho wont very cordially support the requests "ad vanced. He knew very well what diili cullies opposed the prosecution of grea works. This particular work had given great deal of anxious consideration to th Government of which ho was a membei To enable tho North Island Main Trim' ' lino to be completed, tho sum of .£IOO,OO had been put on tho Estimates for ; couple of years. Other railways in dif ferent positions of the country had ti stand over or not get such a largo amoun until tho bigger work had l>ccn completed There was no doubt that tho completioi . of arterial railways was of valuo to tin i country as a whole. He heartily support ed what had been said in favour of tin vigorous prosecution of this railway. Tho Hon. R. M'Kenzio said that vhih ho was Minister for Public Works ho hai coluo to tho conclusion that as soon ai the Midland lino was finished to tin Arthur's Pass tunnel, this lino should bi pushed on expeditiously as far as Kni koura. Mr. J. Duncan 'ex-member for Wairau 1 said that Marlborough peoplo had uoi objected to coming second to tho Nortl Island Main Trunk line, but when line: liko tho Otago Central wero pusliec through they felt neglected, Tho lion. R M'Kenzio had said a, year previously thai tho lino should bo through in ten jears Mr. Duncan emphasised the value of Pic ton Harbour as a potential naval ba.se He said that ho considered tho principli of cD-opcrativo works a sound one, thong] it was not always properly carried out. Mr. Fraser Non-Committal. The Hon. W. Eraser said that his view on tlio matter would bo sol out in tho Public, Works Statement. H< had listened with great interest to vhal had been said and was not likely to for get it. Mr. G. \V. Russell supported tho pro posat generally, but dissociated liimsel entirely from what Mr. Marriner had tail about the system of co-operativo works. PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. A STATEMENT ABOUT POLICY. Tho Prime Minister said that tho difficulty at tho present timo was lite financial position. There was no financial difficulty—tlio country Was prosperous, the revenue was good at the present time, and was likely to bo maintained. But railway construction depended mostly upon loan money. Speaking of loan money he wanted to remind thorn of the reception accorded in l/oudon to the last New Zealand loan. That loan cost the country approximately fivo per cent. Mr. Russell: Only for two years, dr. Mr. Massty: -Yes, and at the end of two years we shall have to face tho. position again so far as that loan is concerned. . > Mr. Russell: Tilings will lie boiler then. Mr. Massey: "I', hopo they will, but this country" cannot afford to nay live per oent for its loan money. The Government cannot take any risk's in appitiaehing London for a loan at (lie present timo." They did not know at present, ho continued, how much' money would be available for public works and until they knew that they could not say how much would bo available for railway construction. So far as the proposed railway was concerned he had been over tlio country and did not believe that there was any better country in New Zealand than tho Kaikoura district. A Reasonable Proposal. The proposed Tailway was one of the 1 main arterial lines of New Zealand nnd he thought that the proposal put forward by one of tho speakers that it should bo completed in nine years was a very reasonable one. Mr. Massey characterised as moderate, sensible and practical, tho view expressed by the Hon. R. M'Kenzio. Tlio Government, he went on, had only been a few weeks in office and during that timo it had done a great deal of work. Mr. Eraser, in particular, had been very hard at work. They had not had time , to look into tho co-operative system, but would do so as soon as possible, no did not know whether thoy would put forward tlio whole of their Public Works policy in the Statement, but at anyrate they Would put forward as much of it as possible. Tf Mr. Eraser made any suggestions or recommendations to tho Cabnet they would bo considered. As to he amount that would be avnilablo for Ms line Cabinet would find out. how* much noney was uvailnbln for public works ind would then see that justice was done o all. Their line would not be forcotten, nit would have as much n,s it vvas" justly ntitled to. Mr. Forbes thanked the Prime Minister or receiving the deputation and for his