RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 10 June 1909, Page 2

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

A deputation from Opunake, which waited upon the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) at Wellington last Saturday, elicited from him an interesting statement on the general intentions of the Government in regard to railway construction. The object of the deputation, was to urge the Government to build a branch railway from the main Wellington-New Plymouth line to Opunake. It was stated that the cost of roading the district had gone up so much that tenders for metalling had recently been as high as per mile. Some lands were rated as high as 5s per acre, and yet the local bodies with their present revenue could not keep their roads in order. They asked that the railway should be put in band as soon as possible, as each year of delay meant loss to the district. The local bodies were prepared to go to the settlers and ask them to guarantee per cent on the estimated cost of the line—^is3) ooo> The Prime Minister, in reply, said he was not in a position to make any promise on the matter that day. It would have to go before Cabinet in connection with the Public Works Statement. Ministers never made such promises, as'it was essential that they should have all the, facts fully before them when coming to a decision. In regard to the proposed guarantee of interest on the cost of construction, he b a d intimated on a previous occasion that the Government would bring down legislation dealing with that subject in a general way, and the system to be provided must be one that would operate equally in all directions. He would not say that they must exact so high a rate as per cent. A railway was a pioneering institution to enable people to live in a more reasonable way, and it was only proper that time should be given to make a reasonable return. In the legislation to be in-

troduced by the Government, every consideration would be given to the views put forward by the deputation, but the Government itself did not, as yet, know what would be necessary, and would not know until it came to deal with the very difficult problem which the Minister for Public Works was now, and would for some time, be engaged upon—the problem of providing railways within the financial limits of the Government. Legislation had been prepared by the Government to ensure that there should not be a heavy loss to the Dominion on lines running through country that would not pay for axle-grease. Such things had occurred, and they wanted to prevent repetition of the siame. The Government did not require to guard against good districts, but against those which could not give a sufficient return on tjie cost of construction. Questioned as, to when the legislation he had referred to would be brought down, the Prime Minister said it was ready and would be introduced at the proper time. The proposed legislation referred to by the Prime Minister, if placed upon the Statutes,may facilitate matters in connection with the Levin to Marton connecting link of the Main Trunk Line.