LABOUR & RAILWAYS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5441, 28 June 1929, Page 1

LABOUR & RAILWAYS.

ATTITURE OF DEPUTY-LEADER. AWAITING DEVELOPMENT. In answer to a question put to him after his address at Paeroa that he “give the meeting an indication of how the Labour Party stood in regard to the Railway policy of Sir Joseph Ward,” Mr M. J. Savage, M.P., gave a full reply. Mr Savage said he had made it his business, along with other Labour members, to view the route of the abandoned Taupo railway. Of course, there they had only heard one side, and from that the supporters of the railway had a pretty strong case. But he personally would make no comments on the case until he had had an opportunity of hearing . the Government’s side of the question. The forests in the Taupo region were marvellous, and it was hard to say whether a railway or a motor road would be the better to get the trees out. Candidly, he thought a railway would prove better. Men round about that locality were making a better and more decent living than those round Freeman’s Bay. It was a struggle, certainly, but with resulting good. Mr Savage’s own opinion was that it was a pity the line was stopped, but he would await what Sir Joseph Ward had to say in justification of his decision.

As for Palmerston North line, the Government was spending more money in pulling it up than laying it down. On first sight this was wrong, but one must hear the other side, too. Therefore, although the move looked very doubtful, it would be wiser before criticising to hear the Government’s reasons.

The speaker said he could see nothing more in favour of the South Island construction than in the Extending of the Taupo line.

Remarking on the Paeroa-Pokeno railway, Mr Savage said that anyone looking at the map could see the line should be built. He could imagine nothing madder than going all the way round all the time. It was a sound economic proposition. Mr Savage emphasised the fact that he did not say this just because of his present listeners, but would say so in the House ; and, moreover, he would vote for the. Paeroa-Pokeno line.