WORK TO CEASE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1931, Page 2

WORK TO CEASE

GISBORNE RAILWAY,

GOVERNMENT'S REPLY TO DEPUTATION.

WEI LINGTON, January 7

A strong protest against the announcement by the Government that it intended to abandon the construction of the railway line from Gisborne to Waikokopu was made by a deputation to-day to the Hon. E. A. Ransom the Hon. W. A. \ eitch, the Hon. IV. B. Taverner. The deputation was headed by -Mr W. D. Lysnar M.P., for Gisborne, and Ur K. S. Williams, M.U. for the Bay of Plenty, and was representative of all local bodies and all political parties in the district. It was alleged that the Government’s action was unwarranted from any angle and that the line would develop the tremendous resources ctf the district. It was'urged that it would be a paying proposition. Mr C. Williams, representing the Poverty Bay Sheepowners’ Federation, said the line would make an enormous difference to industry in the district. There was a difference of between 3s and os in the price paid for sheep at Gisborne an dHnstings to the detriment of Gisborne, The line would mean the development of 2,500,030 acres of land. . What was driving the Government into its action was an outcry from the rest of the Dominion, Which did not know the position,

NOTICE OF DISMISSALS,

Mr Ransom said he appreciated the feeling of Gisborne people, Some question had arisen concerning the closing cif lines, but the Government’s announcement in the Press was meant to be a definite statement that four lines would be closed. That was not, however, an intimation to the various staffs which would not necessarily be notified that they were to receive notice at the same time .That accounted for the reply tie had sent to Air Lysnar concerning the dismissal. All the men would be given a week’s notice. Members of the deputation said that although men working on the co-opera-tive system were to receive a week’s notice, those working hv the day would not.

- r Ransom said lie had instructed that all were to he treated alike, and he would look into the position. It had been stated that men were living on fish during the holidays, but jt was hard to accept this statement, and it made one wonder how much reliance could be placed on other statements made by the deputation. Men on the works had been earning an average of 17s per day and the Government could not be blamed if they took no care for the future when they were earning good money.

DECISION TO STAND

The suggestion bad been made that the line could be. made to pay 10 per cent,, but if it could be proved that it would even pay less than that, the Government would be warranted in going ahead with the work, There was no reason to believe that the rajl\\,iy would eliminate motor t-rnffio, as tiffhad not been the case in other parts of the country, He sympathised deely with those who were out Oi work and those who would be affected by the cessation of construction. However, if the Government had waited until no one would be hurt by taking action, it would then be too lrte to prr-m V. ther waste, It was fully recognised that the line had been advocated by Ministers, but times had changed greatly and they had been forced to change their opinions. The Government's decision would have to stand at least in the meantime.