RAILWAY WORKS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9854, 6 November 1924, Page 2

RAILWAY WORKS

WANTED’: A VIGOROUS PUNCH.

MR LYSNARLS ADVICE TO HON. J. G. COATES.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 4. Objecting to the expenditure of £2,0U0,000 on developing lines already in existence, when only £1,200,000 is to be spent on the construction of new lines, Mr Lysnar, addressing the Minister for Public Works during the debate on the Public Works Estimates said:

“If be (Mr Coates) puts his vigorous punch into the construction of lines which he promised the Dominion, instead of improving the existing liiJes, it would he an entirely different thing. I hope the future will show that the misgivings I have about- the Minister’s policy will not materialise. ! The Hon. Mr. Coates: I am sure they will. i Mr. Lysnar: I hope not: I look forward in the future to some better speeding-up than exists to-day. If this present policy were to continue, it could only, in fairness to the whole position, continue by the Government finding borrowed money for these improvements on existing lines. It is not right that our small funds should be entrenched upon for that work. The lion, member for Christchurch East questioned the prudence of New Zealand letting contracts for the construction of railways to outside firms. 1 feel that the Minister has followed live right course in doing what lie has in that respect. The lion, gentleman stated that the New Zealand coi> tractors were barred from, competing for the work, but I maintain that .that is not so. The hen. member said that there were no big contractors in New Zealand able to carry out the work on the scale desired. It this class of work were understood, ar.cl desired by New Zealand contractor:-:, they could very soon equip themselves for that work. The tendering wr.'s onen to New Zealand contractors as well as. to contractors in other parts of the world. It was perfectly fair. I do- not think that the- question of co-operation comes into the matter at all. I understand that the present contractors themselves are letting cooperative work and those who desire to have the benefits of that system can'take advantage of it. Mr Langstonc: That shews the foolishness of the Department! Mr JiVsnar: I do not agree with that-. If there is to be sub-contract-ing, that may be all right, but it does itot follow that the whole work should not be lc-t by contract. I would like to again stress to the Minister of Railways the necessity for utilising tlieefficient and useful storage-battery electric cars installed on -some of the lines of the Dominion. Many of our small lines will never be profitably handled until the Minister goes, in for those electric cars. —Special.