RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2290, 16 June 1921, Page 3

RAILWAY DEVIATION.

THE COMMISSION’S REPORT.

MR, NEWMAN’S OPINION,

Asked his opinion of the report of the Palmerston North Railway Commission recently published, Mr E. Newman, M.P., stated that he had never read a report of any commission that in his opinion was more unsatisfactory. No sufficient reasons were given for the recommendations made, and the arguments that had been advanced in favour of the “direct” route ®\vere ignored altogether, presumably because they are unanswerable. The cost of the works under consideration was also not revealed, although it had to be admitted that the scheme recommended by the Commission would cost £IOO,OOO to £150,000 more than the other Palmerston North scheme, Mi 1 Newman said that all agreed that it is absolutely necessary to have improvements effected at Palmerston North station to cope with the increased traffic, and this should be done as early as possible, but he hoped the Government will not commit the country to a project costing perhaps three-quarters of: a million of money to make an unnecessary deviation at Palmerston North, when there are public works such as the hydro-electric power development works, which are of much greater national importance, hampered and delayed through want of funds. If the South Island members will only arouse themselves and take an interest in this question, and look at it from a national point of view, he believed that the “direct” route will yet be adopted. In bin judgment, it will he a mistake of the first magnitude if the Government allows itself to he persuaded to adopt the recommendnlions of this Commission and proceeds to commit itself to this great undertaking at the’ present time. Probably on the pica of providing work for the unemployed an attempt will he made to bring this about. He hoped that the Acting-Minister of Railways, in spile of his own possible predilection for the Palmerston scheme, will resist, such influence, otherwise he would have his name, which rightly now stands high in public estimation, on account of his admirable administration of the Lands Department, associated with one of the greatest blunders ever made by any Government in connection with tho construction of railways in New Zealand. Such blunders, for instance, as the construction of the lines over the Rimutaka, and the Turakinn-Wangaeliu hills should not he repeated. This country cannot afford to have many such colossal mistakes made. Mr Newman considered that careful surveys should be made and cost of the three schemes he made known, and Parliament be given an opportunity to express an opinion on them liefore the work is proceeded with.