RAILWAY CONTRACTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1923, Page 4

RAILWAY CONTRACTS.

KKKK(T3 OK XICW POI.fCV. WK1.1,1 XHTOX. duly oh The Minister of Public Works. Hon .!. (1. Coates made a further statement with regard to the decision of the ( !ovcrnmcni Lo call for tenders m New /ealuml and overseas for the Past Coast railway um onijileled si'rtion. Kel'erring to the criticism of the Leader ot the Labour Pnrfv. 1 he .Minister said il did not (envoy the policy ot the (government. In [lie (irsl place there had been a general demand throughout the country that in tonnexion '.'ill: Pulilic Works construction the Governmeiit should give an opportunity to up-to-date contractors to undertake the i ;iii:.triwtit’it of a length oi railway. : Considerably over a million had been ; expended on lines from Tauraugn east* i wards, and this line was isolated Irani the railway system ot .New s/calnnd. Tim railway was now constructed from \Vnibi within striking distance ol Katil.aii. and the length that required u.nstittetion hetween Waihi and lauranga. was 18 or 10 miles. The ( loveriiment j was anxious to get this section linked up as earl v as possi hie aml to get ittompleted within throe years would require a ci.nsiderahle tttuounl of machinery, excavation, locomotives, trucks, and so forth. If tin- (loveriiment took machinery from other parts o| New Zealand, part of the work would have to stand I over. It was important also that the commitments under way should he emt- ■ pleted. The present proposal was de- ( hied and foreeasteil in the last I’uhln Works’ Statement, and was just died on three counts:--(1) The (loveriiment did not have s'lilticieiii machinery to linisth this section ol railway. (2) 7hev were anxious to see whether outside contracts could show them anything in the way of railway construction. and (;!) The (loveriiment were desirous of netting the line connected with the general railway system. ' Mr T. M. TV il ford : Will the specifications he laid on the table.-' The Minister: ’Hiey are bulky ami arc at the Public Works Department i! bon. members wish to inspect them. Tiie amount, iio added, wns a little under half a million.