THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS QUESTION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1616, 25 April 1879, Page 3

THE RAILWAY WORKSHOPS QUESTION.

[Press Special Wire.] Dunedin, April 24. In reply to a letter from Mr Macandrew, asking by whom the allegation was made that the chief workshops in the Middle Inland were to be at Addington, Mr Webb, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, writes: —‘‘ Dunedin, April 22nd, 1879. lam instructed by the committee to say as to the railway workshops that common rumour appears to be supported by the fact that almost all important work ever since the opening of the line through is executed at Christchurch. Very little here. Whether rumour is well founded or not, it will be very satisfactory if you will authorise the committee publicly to contradict it. Mr Reynolds informs the committee that the resolution referred to was carried in the House on your motion.” To this, Mr Macandrew replies—" It is to be regretted that the Chamber of Commerce should be so easily gulled by common rumor. Were I publicly to contradict all that common rumor says it would be an endless matter. There is no intention whatever on the part of the Government to concentrate the workshops for the Middle Island either at Addington or Dunedin, If a resolution on the subject was carried in the House of Representatives on my motion, I have no recollection of it, nor can I find any record of it. lam not aware that important work for Dunedin section, which could have been executed in Dunedin, or indeed any work at all for Dunedin section has been executed in Christchurch. I have caused, however, enquiry to be made on the subject so as to ascertain the facts of the case. Plans have been prepared for employing Dunedin workshops with the view of meeting increasing requirements, and the work is expected to be in hand shortly there. The shops will, no doubt, continue to be enlarged from time to time as the n< ce?sity for so doing increases, without, it is hoped, eliciting paltry local jealousies elsewhere.”