REFORM PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1929, Page 2

REFORM PARTY

A RUMOUR DENIED

MR COATES REFERS TO NORTHERN RAILWAYS.

AUCKLAND, July 28

“You may look for such rumours,” said the leader of the Opposition in connection with a statement telegraphed from Wellington that there was to be an attempt to reorganise the Reform Party and re-christen it the New Reform Party, also mentioning Sir James Parr as the possible leader.

Mr Coates said that the rumour .was unfounded and that the source was known. The Parliamentary representatives of the Reform Party were sound and loyal, and he felt that it was regrettable that Sir James Parr’s name should he bandied around while that gentleman was absent from., the country on important work. , Speaking on the Vaile letter, Mr Coates said: “It was not cricket to produce a letter from the files and read it in the House. • We would not have done it. Of course the letter may have been read as part of party politics. The Rotorua-Taupo railway was decided on purely in the interests of our land settlement scheme.”

Mr Coates said that some explanation was necessary regarding the construction of the Waiotira JunctionKirikopuni line. This apparently had been misunderstood. A commission originally set up to consider the line had fixed the route from Waiotira to Kaikohe in the Far North. This would have taken the line through the Mangakahia River valley in practically a straight line. It was decided on some years ago and a start was made with its construction. Then the main north line to Wliangarei was completed, and the work of that line accelerated. A review of the original line was then made. Settlers were conferred with, and a point was fixed to run the line to Kirikopuni, and a road was constructed from Kirikopuni to Mangakahia. The remainder of the line to the north cut into that from .Kirikopuni to Kaikohe, a distance of forty miles. Finally tne line to Kirikopuni was completed. Regarding the complaint which had been made about the loop on the Wai-otira-Kirikopuni line, Mr Coates said

that it was an afterthought, which was provided when it was decided vto. link up the Kaihu Valley ‘route With the main line. Work Avas stopped at Kirikopuni because it was thought by the Reform Government that road communication Avas sufficient at that time. Mr Coates Avas met at the raihvay station this morning by the largest croAvd of supporters Avhicli lias ever gathered there since he Avent out of office. He Avas greeted Avitli cheers and congratulated on his AA’ork as leader of the Opposition.