NAPIER-GISBORNE RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1559, 1 October 1912, Page 4

NAPIER-GISBORNE RAILWAY.

TEMPORARY STOP, AND WHY? (Br Telcgraph.-Presi Anoolatlon.f Napier, September 31, Tho Trades and Labour Council passea a resolution "strongly protesting against; tho action of Hie Jlnsspy Government in stopping ail work on the Napier-Gisbonie railway, as tho council is of opinion it in only a move to throw surplus lal>our on tho market in view of won; restarting at Waiiii, also to hamper the opcning-nn ot largo estates, which will prevent worker? getting on the land." Nearly one hundred men have been put oft' the works. Napier, September 30. Tho announcement that work on the Napier end of the East Coast railway waa to oease temporarily was not by any means favourably reoeived here. Ihe subject was mentioned at a special meet* ing of the Chamber of Commerce to-day, when members of the East' Coast Railway League were also present. After some dis-* cussion a telegram was forwarded to the' Minister expressing regret at the propoß'd cessation of work, and trusting that it may only bo temporary; further, that the district generally is greatly perturbed, and that it would cause a feclni" of relief if the Minister could telegraph lu» reasons for tho temporary stoppage. MINISTER'S STATEMENT. "The suggestion that (lie men have been dismissed from this work in order to aocentuato the Waihi trouble is too ridiculous for comment," said the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. W. Fraser, la«fc evening. Tho Minister explained that all (lie work done on tho lino had been earthworks and that no other works could pos-i sibly be gone on with until a bridge was built across tho harbour north of Napier. Probably about £12,000 had been already, spent which would bo unproductive for twelve months until the bridge was bunt, Tho anterior work in any event must b» tho building of the bridge, and before' the bridge could be constructed, the approaches to it must bo built. Until it was built no engine could be put on tha line, and no rails or other furnishing# could l)o carried on to tho worts.