NORTH AND SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 295, 7 September 1920, Page 6

NORTH AND SOUTH

PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE

THE PROGRESS OF RAILWAYS

STATEMENTS BY MR. MASSEY

A deputation representing Auckland province was introduced to the Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) and the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Coatcs) yesterday by Mr. P. Marnier, M.P. The speakers asked for the early completion of the North Auckland railway and the East Coast Main Trunk line, and for the development of tho Auckland district generally. Mr. P. 'Chcal, who was the first} speaker, drew comparisons between tho amount of public works money spent in the North Island and in the South. He suggested that the South Island had been unduly favoured in the -past.' Other members of the deputation, including Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., and Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., deprecated comparisons of the kind. The North Island, they said, wanted its fair share of current expenditure and nothing more. The Prime Minister, in reply, said that he agreed with the members as to tho unwisdom of setting one part of the country against another. Their interests were identical, and it was right for all the districts of the Dominion to pull together. "I do not blamo any district for doing the best it can for tho people within its boundaries," ho said. "I agree also with your speakers regarding tho great and very satisfactory development that has taken place in the Auckland district. IV is a fact that since tho North Island Main Trunk line was put hrugh, Auckland has never looked back. I can remember when, thirty years ago, tho Auckland district was scoffed at by many people who ought to have known better. Auckland was regarded then as <i barren country not worth settling. We members from the north used to be chaffed about the smell of bonedust in. Queen street. They used to say that Auckland could produce nothing without bonedust. Times have changed and opinions have changed. Auckland has become a most important part of New Zealand. It is quite true that in recent years a very large sum of money has Leon spent by the Government in Auckland district on roads, railways, bridges, and so on. I believe that the money has been well expended. . The whole country is now reaping the benefit of the expenditure there during the last eleven or twelve .years.

"The other districts, ■ in earlier years, had very large mms of money expended within their border's, and properly expended. The population was there and it was tho duty of the Government of the dav to encourage settlement. I do not find fault, with that in tho very slightest. As far as tho South Island is concerned, comparisons are sometimes made of the miles of railway constructed. It should be remembered that the North Island has 'been very rapidly overtaking the South Island in recent years, and the tinio will come when tn« North Wand will be level with the South Island, and even ahead or it in railway mileage. Much fault has been found with the Government lor com. nieiicing the boring of the big Otira tunnel in the South Island some eight years ago. The position is simply this: A very large amount of public money had been spent by other Governments on carrying the rai'lwav to the site of the tunnel on either side. The money that had been spent already was lying idle and unproductive until the connection through the hills was provided. The rails were misting, tho sleepers were rotting, and the earthworks were being washed away. i\o Government could have refused to proceed with the tunnel and so complete tho railway connection between the provinces of Canterbury and West and., 11 the tunnel had not been undertaken, the expenditure that had already be*n made would have been useless. I am sure that the completion of the tunnel will pay. The tunnel is now nearing completion, and the next step will be its electrification. I know a little of the country down there, thought not as much as I know of the north, and I am strongl.v nf linion that when tho tunnel is thro^h. H.e lino connecting Canterbury ind Weslland will pay a h. S her rate of fnt"rest than many people imagine. We „ Iho North Island should not grudge V o,i° of the South Wand the exculture to which they are entitled P«I do not think that there will, to an* difticultv about raising sufficient Zeyfoi public works. As a matter T£or we are not able to spend as Ichs we would like to spend. If we pu h d the expenditure of pub ic funds £ Sic works at the present time, the Amnion vould not be getting value for ita money. That, is the position. It is a; anybody else can to."