RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4039, 9 January 1930, Page 3

RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT POLICY.

NO NEW LINES TO 'BE BUILT

Wellington, January 7.

Denial was made to-day by the Prime Minister of the published statement that New Zealand is preparing to invest another £15*009,000 in new railways. “This assertion,” said Sir Joseph, “is misleading and is not correct. The Government is not embarking on the construction of any new lines but is merely hastening the completion of existing trunk lines which is essential in the interests of the Dominion as a. whole-. The Government’s policy in respect to transport has already been laid down by me on various occasions and may be briefly reiterated here as follows:—

To complete trunk lines as the foundation ®f the system. Not to cons-truc-t any more short branch lines where transport needs • .in be adequately and more economically catered for by other means of transport. To investigate the position of the present branch lines with a view to deciding as to their future working.

To write down railway capital by the amount contributed thereto from revenue and cancel the present subsidy from the consolidated fund.

To co-ordinate the railway ami motor road construction policies. To take steps .to bring'about coordination between road and rail transport services.

Tn conclusion Sir -Joseph adds: “It cannot be gainsaid that the railways must (be the backbone of the Dominion’s transport system and that the policy ‘announced above which the Government is pursuing will eventually obtain a complete system of unified transport based on a correct, degree of co-ordination between road and railway.”