WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1929, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

SOUTH ISLAND THUNK HAILWAY

(Special Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 7

At two o’clock yesterday morning tlie Hill authorising the completion of the South Island Alain Trunk Hailway, and other lines, was passed through the House of Rcprescntntives a division on an amendment proposed by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, the leader of the Opposition, being rejected Hv 44 voites to 27, and a later amendment proposed by Mr A. Hamilton, the member of Wal lace, on the voices. Three Labour members, Mr W. Hi. Barnard (Napier), Mr W. L. Martin (Hacln.ll), and M” IT. G. R. Mas'"i (Auckland Suburbs) voted with the Opposition, as the Independent member Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) also did, while the Reform member for Christchurch North. Mr IT. Holland, voted with the Government. Mr,-T. S. Fletcher. The member for Grey .Lvnn, who ha' 1 announced that he - could not accept the view of cither .party" upon this particular matter abstained from voting. The. Bill readied the Legislative Council in due. course and the Hon. T. S. Weston (having pronoiWed the “whole thing a scandal” the measure passed through its remaining stages without further interruption.

. PRESS OPINION. Both the local papers hold fast to their reiterated view I lint the Main Trunk Railway should not he completed, without further investigation. “Apart .from?’party politics,” says the j&jseeking an inquiry into new railway construction should have been carried. Truthful and definite findings of f-’ct ate as much in the interests of the promoters of the South Island Main r £punk and other railways as of their opponents; and a-s Mr Coates disposed of the pretension that the Reform amendment would stop the works—by offering to withdraw the amendment if the Government would promise to voluntarily make the inqnjry—dt is clear that the United Government deliberately prefers to proceed in the dark. And in that determination it is supported by the pjjrty, whose high mission is to throe digtit-jjom all dark places. But the ifnpibug wa& too self-evident to win tlie endorsement of Air Barnard and Air Fletcher.’’ It is not quite plain why the meed of praise accorded to Air Barnard, aPd Mr Fletcher is no 1 extended to Air Mason, and Air Martin. “WHO! R COUNTRY UNEASY.” The “Dominion” takes an even graver view of the situation that ; oes its evening contemporary. “A huge sum in public money” it declares ,“is to be spent on new railways. The whole country is uneasy '■oneerning the wisdom of the policy. Lines constructed at much lower capital cost and serving much riche’ districts are making a loss.. There is a _calk foiVi&- ! if\ill -investigation into the economic'soundness of the construction policy. But when Mr Coates, voicing .the wishes of a majority iv the Dominion, asks for such an ,in "it!''Not "because 1 ' it?Ts an lihreasorinblo request, not because it is against '"to* lodic "before the leap, but Because of the,,, Rrime „, Mjvj,iste£s k ... joJpQHor< Tli%| h,a§e%j t&rbl . for office. Opportunism is its policy :>.nd pledges—unless they fit_tlig.occasion—are so much electioneering j n uk.”— lt is a pity so. grave an • indictment should' be. made: ludicrous by its concluding sentence. THE OTHER SIDE. That the whole country is hot" uneasy over the pro snoot of tile trunk railways of the two islands being completed ! within a : reasonable ' time may be .judged from the fact' that c4r+v. f o"’'m.ond'ers of the .r’eeeiitlv elected*'House of Representatives voted ; for ; fhe- spetding-up "of' this- Work' and : twehty'-'sevhri for*'aig r iiiqui-iW / that would' havh' delay«. a ud probably«ThrOwir lib *Hn6V*light oh" the ’ ‘Situation 1 .- '* Sir' Joseph' Ward had“icdpsiStently'iadyhC'Kted' thfP speedy eompletidjr of tlie l South 1 Is--land Trh’nk RailwayotWeiityOlherAvars' or more; before chis platform atvtb^blgc'tioiik'of.'.-Nou- 1 ember last.*t‘AVhen thj&uAuthorisation; Bill reached the ' ■Trf'g-islativcy-Kpoup.ciL the Hou. YihiH.: Reedßof ■ AuddawtlV a„d the Hon. TV S." AARstoiiy uf iAYeR' lingtou, were the only members' (>f ; the second, chamber that deprecated, the Government proposals, while Ijalf a dozen other speakers emphasised (fie impgrtanne of .completing. l -..the system of communication between the *;,o Islands. The Won- T. K. ,Sidey. the leader of the Council. attributed the opposition to the measure to vested interests and neither of .its declared opponents sought a. division.