BULLER GORGE RAILWAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1920, Page 1

BULLER GORGE RAILWAY.

DEPUTATION TO CABINET

(By Telegraph.—Special to Guardian.)

WELLINGTON, July 16.

Canterbury and West Coast membes supported by delegates, interviewed the Prime Minister, and Minister for" Public Works to ask for the completion of the Buller Gorge railway. They explained the importance of the work and emphasise the value of the coal areas. The completed line would open lip coalfields with an area of about '22 square miles, with outcrops of coal from 11 feet to 1(5 feet thick at many points. Mr Massey said that the men ha 1 made out a good case, but the Govern ment had to face the fact that the construction of railways was a matter of men, money and material and that all these necessaries were scarce especially men and material. Plenty of We;t Coast coal for the Navy was an important factor in the adjustment of the coal supplies'. The Imperial authorities were continually asking for coal for warships an<f Singapore, and the Australian Government had simply demanded supplies of Westport coal for the Australian Navy. The Federal Government had even threatened that if Now Zealand did not supply Westport coal it would cut off supplies of commodities that tlie Dominion needed from Australia. The question would he dealt with in the Public Works Statement. Governmeirt hoped to do justice to every part of N.Z. and the Wet Coast would not be lost sight of.

Hon. .T. C. Coates said he could no; say yet what place the line would occupy on the Government’s list. He. was impressed by the very large am • omit of coal in the Buller ditsrict and by the fact that seams could bo work ed on the 00-operntive system without heavy outlay.