THE RAILWAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 13 January 1931, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS

CLOSING DOWN LINES COMMENTS BY OPPOSITION LEADER (By Telegraph—Press Association) DARGAVILLE, This Day. Resolutions urging the Government to construct a further mile and a half of the Tangowaliine-Dargaville railway, work upon which has been suspended, was carried at a large meeting of settlers of Dargaville and district convened by the Mayor, Mr Jones, and the chairman of the Hobson Country Council, Mr V. Trounson. The Mayor presided, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr J. GCoates, attended as member for Waipara. Mr Coates said he would refrain from touching upon matter’s which might be deemed political, and his remarks were mainly directed to the recent declaration by the Government concerning railway construction and the decision to close down certain lines now in hand. “In my opinion,” said Mr .Coates, “the Government is following a wise course in curtailing loan money expenditure. Indeed, it has been shown by documents prepared by the Government that some of the new lines recently in hand will* when completed, show heavy losses. These are sufficiently arresting to call for most searching inquiry before another pound is spent upon them.. On these grounds the lines I have in mind should not proceed pending stronger reasons than those already given. I fail to follow the logic of tire Government's decision in closing works that require but a small sum to complete them. The Government’s statement indicates that £70,000 will be required to complete the Kirikopuni-Dargaville section. If losses on railway lines when complete are the dominating factor then it would appear that the Government has not been guided by salient facts in the decision come to by them. For instance, if it will cost, using their own figure, £70,000 to complete a section which by their showing will make an annual loss of £26,000, how can the Government by the same process of calculation persist with a lyre which is to cost £2,500,000, and, again, from theil- figures, show an annual loss of £IOO,OOO. In the absence of fuller information it would appear that the Government has not been guided by facts. I feel the Government possess further information and reasons, and it, is due to the country that they be made known.”