HAS NO SECRET INFORMATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 195, 3 September 1937, Page 5

HAS NO SECRET INFORMATION

-Press AsRociation.)

Mr Savage's Statement About War & N.Z. Transport HAPPENINGS IN EUROPE

(Bv TeleirraDb-

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. An assuranco that he had no secret inlormation that was not available to the reist of the community was given by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to-day when he asked if he would amplify the following statement he made yesterday in replying to ti deputation regarding the tunnel road: — "As regards railways, I might say that possibly much 60oner than you ihink our petrol supplies may be cut off and we shall have to reply on the railways, for which we have coal in abundance. I have a shrewd suspicion that it might happen much sooner than anyone thinks. For our defence, if for nothing else, we cannot let the railways rust. "What I meant was that we might iind ourselves in a etate of war," said Mr Savage. "We can't afford to ignore what is happening in Europe to-day. Our petrol supplies come from overseas, and obviously they would not be so great if we became involved in a war as they are under present conditions. We can't take anything for granted. We have our own coal supplies and railway system providing a sobstantial measure of transport. That is not to eay that motor transport should not be developed. However, I don't know anything except what others know, and 1 would like that made clear, but anyone who reads the cables must realise that the position at the moment is not a garden of roses."