HIS PREDECESSORS' RAILWAYS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1628, 20 December 1912, Page 4

HIS PREDECESSORS' RAILWAYS.

ME. FRASEE'S POLICY.

{By Telegraph.— 2ma Aecoriation.) Hastings, December 19. Tho Hon. W. Fraser, -Minister for Pub* Ui, Works, spent two hours last evening with the members of the Hastings Chamber of Commerce informally di.scussing Clatters of interest to Hawke's Bay. The Minister emphasised his policy of devoting to' road-making the restricted funds available for his Deportment. Hβ , regretted haying to discontinue for -a 1 time iiiany railways commenced 'by bis predecessors, but railways were useless unless fed by Toads, and one railway completed, even if only paying 1 per cent., was better thaii twenty uncompleted lines. He looked upon the East Coast line as me of national importance, and promisedthat money would be plncod on the Estimates next session, and work proceeded with. He deprecated wasteful expenditure and assured' the chamber that he would not. sanction expenditure for expenditure's sake. He was having lull inquiries made into the working and advantages of light railways in other countries. If. found satisfactory, .-he honed .Parliament next session would sanction extension of Hie system in New Zealand. The Minister, accompanied .-. by Mr. Holmes,' Chief Engineer, left lor Wellington this morning. On Tuesday, he proceeds to Auckland.