MR. HEALY HITS OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1931, Page 14

MR. HEALY HITS OUT

MARLBOROUGH'S DEFENCE j The member for Wairau (Mr. E. F. Healy) is a keen battler for his district, and the South Island Main Trunk probably has no stronger advocate in the House of Representatives. In addition to heading the huge deputation from Marlborough yesterday, Mr. Healy took a prominent part in' the debate in the House last night. He condemned the report of' the Government Railways Board, and declared that he was prepared to go to the country on the attitude he had adopted. Mr. Healy said the people of Marlborough had shown, plainly that morning how important the South - Island Main Trunk was to them. The line ' would mean the progress to Marl-.; borough which she had been denied for j years and years. The report was a confession of weakness and inability to deal with national problems. Colonel T. W. M'Donald (Government, Wairarapa): "It's a narrow gauge, Ted." (Laughter^) Mr. Healy: "There arc othur narrow gauges without being railway lines." (More laughter.) If the Board's report were adopted, no lines could be recommenced • unless- there was a recommendation from the board. That would mean the end of railway construction. "I am prepared to go to the country on this," said Mr. Healy, "and stand or fall by it." A member: "You'll fall, all right."

Mr. Healy: "I will take the responsibility if I fall. I am as strong a party man as anybody, but there are times when party considerations most be thrown aside." "The board said it had made many detours," Mr. Healy added, "but they made very few. They certainly got into a wine cellar, and the man who owned it told me that he regretted the board ever got .i taste." (Laughter.) . ' ■ . An extension of time was granted to Mr. Healy, and he responded by saying that he would not take advantage of it were it not for the fact that "this is the greatest day in my political life." (Laughter.) # Later on Mr. Healy was referring to the composition of the board. Mr. R. Semple (Labour, Wellington East): "How many engineers are there on the board?" ; . Mr. Healy: "I don't know whether thero is a businessman on it." (Laughter.) He wanted to know why there had been no report on the Stratford Vine and the Tawa Flat deviation.