DEBATE OPENED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 85, 7 October 1931, Page 11

DEBATE OPENED

MOVE TO STOP WORKS

MR. FORBES'S ATTITUDE

Urgency was accorded in the House of Representatives this afternoon for the debate on railway lines under con-

struction,

Moving that the recommendation of tho Railways Board against the construction of the Wharanui-Parnassus, Putorino-Wairoa, and Te Kuha-Inanga-hua sections, of railway lino be approved, the Primo Minister and Minister of Railways (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes) said the motion was to enable the whole matter to be debated and decided upon. Personally ho had been ono of the first to introduce deputations in support of tho South Island Main Trunk, and ho had consistently supported the project, but he now moved the motion with a senso of duty as Prime Minister, in which position he was a trustee for the people of the country. Responsibilities were thrown on the members of thn Government at present which had not been called for previously. What could bo supported under more favourable economic conditions could no longer bo supported. The Railway Board had reported that if the lines under construction wero completed it could only mean a big financial loss to the country. The losses could only be met by further retrenchments. Ho felt tho House was of the opinion that they should keep their finances in a sound position. Unprofitable railway systems were loaded on to the railway service, and that was bad from the point of view of the railwaymen. The investigations had been carried out very carefully.

Mr. W. J). Lysnar (Independent, Gis borne): "Oh, question!"

Mr. G. C. Black (Independent, Motueka): "They reported before they hoard tho evidence."

After a careful examination of all Iho information that had been collected, tho board's considered opinion was that the lines under construction would only add to tho railway losses.

A member in 1928?"

"You didn't think that

Mr. Forbes: "The position to-day is different from that of 1925. A great deal of water has flowed under the bridge sinco that time. In 1928 we didn't havo the world depression. The financial position of this country is right down to the limit, and unless we face the position the end may be disastrous. Tho .situation must bo faced by those in responsible positions.

Mr. Forbes said if tho Government went on to the market to raise money for lines which had been condemned by the Railway Board it would have no chance of getting it. They had to face tho facts of the present; it was no use talking of the pnst. He knew that tho discontinuance, of construction would cause keen disappointment in various districts.

Lysnar: "Close all tho rail-

ways.''

They had to consider the national interests rather than local interests. The Government must take tho national outlook. No one regretted more than he did that the country was hot in a position to afford further expenditure t>» railway v.onstriKjtion. iivvvy allowance had been mado for the fai-.ts and figures that had been presented in .support of. railway lines. He did not think tho Railway Board could bo charged

with having taken a prejudiced view. The Government had the valuable experience oil the Railway Department as well as of experienced men to guide it in the matter. He thought the membevs of tho Biiilwiiy Board could be taken as being representative of the people in the matter of judging whether the work oi! construction should bo continued or not. One of tho weaknesses of the railway construction policy in the past had been local and political influence, and for that reason there had been a strong • feeling that an unprejudiced board should be set up to deal with the position. Mr. Forbes said they could not disregard the decisions of a board which was composed of men who regarded the question from a business viewpoint. Any member with a sense of his responsibilities must, realise that it was not right to ask that the already overheavy burden in respect to railway commitments should be added to. All tho evidence showed that extra expenditure would make the financial position worse. If they ignored the figures they would be casting aside all consideration of the future finances of the railways. At the present time the taxpayer was being asked to find £1,395,000 for railway expenditure, and they could not continue constructing lines which would be unprofitable and which would add further burdens to the financial position. Before they asked the people to put their hands in their pockets, before they asked the railway service to submit to further retrenchments, before they wont on to the London money market for loans they had to be sure that any step that was taken was financially and economically sound.

(Proceeding.)