RAILWAY WORKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 5

RAILWAY WORKS

EAST COAST LINE CONSTRUCTION TO BE RESUMED. f Press Association. NAPIER, May 13. When Sir William Eraser, Minister for Public Works, was in Napier ho was interviewed by the member for Napier (Mr J. Vigor Brown) on tho question of recommencing the work or constructing the East Coast railway. The Minister replied that he was pro pared to issue authority for the resumption of work which had been stopped by the war. If necessary labour could be secured, the work could start immediately, and he would issue instructions accordingly. The engineer in charge of the public Works Department here would start work as soon as twenty men were available, and as many more as could be secured would be given work. Mr A. E. Jull, chairman of tho Napier Harbour Board, made brief reference to tho East Coast railway at the board's meeting. He said that the board was vitally interested in tho East Coast railway and Waikaremoan* hydro-electric development. .Both were of primary importance to tho district. A Wellington newspaper had recently drawn a comparison in regard to the receipts and expenditure of the NewZealand railways, and it showed that the North Island gave a return of 6 per cent, upon the capital cost, und the South Island about half that amount. This statement called tot the North Island to assert itself and secure readjustment on the interest charged and secure more railways. There was not a more wickedly wasteful and political railway in New Zealand than the Otago Central line. In the East Coast railway it was in the interests of the board that this land should be opened up by vigorous railway works.