Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 10th, 1920. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star THURSDAY, JUNE 10th, 1920. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

The Minister of Public Works who is continuing his lightning tour through . New Zealand was in Auckland last week and gave his views on railway construction, tylr Coates said liis idea was to push on with the completion of all main lines in accordance with their national importance. This is very proper, but the people would like to know who is to pass judgment on the lines of “National importance.” Mr Coates admitted lie had not made up his mind yet, but would submit his proposals to Cabinet and it would be for the Ministry to settle the details of this policy. This does not appear the happiest way to (ietennine the matter, more especially as Mr Coates went on to say “the North Auckland Main Trunk line is to ho pushed on with all speed—his idea being to get that completed as

quickly as possible.” This break from his set policy announced earlier,, is not satisfactory, and Parliament, if it is sincere to stop jobbing in connection with Railways, should intervene, and see that- the order of importance of the railways under construction or to be constructed, should be determined by an independent tribunal outside political control. Only m this way will justice be done to the requirements of the country, and tile interests of the

taxpayer. 'Hie particular railway which Mr Coates lias singled out for

preference is doing very well already

in the matter of public expenditure. The year before last £102,500 was voted for it and £114,013 expended, which shows there was no skimping. Last financial year £160,000 was voted for the work so funds are being well provided. The North Auckland main trunk line is 85 miles in length and 48 miles are in operation. The work according to the latest available figures has cost £1,002,468. The South West-

land main trunk line is certainly comparable with the Nortli Auckland line, both in importance and earning capacity. The Greymouth-Waitaha-sec-tion is 50 miles in length, and 38 miles are in operation. The cost of this work

lias been £338,911, bo that in respect to capital expenditure the advantage is to the AVestland line. The position requires to be emphasised so that at thiß juncture the local work will not be lost sight of. Tlie line here is one of the best paying in the Dominion, and its utility in the transport of the commodity most in demand in the country—timber—is beyond question. The further the line is pushed southwards the more timber country it will tap and the greater area of Crown lands will be brought into more immediate utility. Tlie line has a special recbrnmendation because of the betterment it will be to the public estate, and by tapping the timber lands it will save waste and destruction of bush country which would otherwise be Sent ti.p in smoke by the clearing of land for settlement. So far the Government has failed to realise the importance of the South Westland railway. The Massey Ministry and the ex-Minister of Public Works have been notoriously opposed to the work, and the stopping of the work is to tho debit of the Government. Yet the line has been authorised by Parliament, and a. vote passed towards its construction. If the present Minister deals fairly with railway construction, the South Westland line must come into its share of at- i tention and Mr Coates should be pres- i sed at this juncture for a. measure of i justice ,to the work; , I