RAILWAYS REPORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 39, 8 October 1931, Page 3

RAILWAYS REPORT

("Post" Special Commissioner).

LONG DEBATE CHANGED CONDITIONS MAKE NEW LINE CONSTRUCTION UNJUSTIFIABLE • PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, Wednes. Urgency was accorded in the House of Representatives this afternoon for a debate on railway lines under construction and a long and dreary debate, which is likely to result in one of the lengthiest sittings of the House this session, set 'in. Moving that the recommendations of the Railways Board against the construction of the Wharanui-Par-nassus, Putorino-Wairoa, and Te Kuka-Inangahua sections of railway line be approved, the Prime Minister and Minister of Railwavs (thft Rt.

Hon. G. W. Forbes) said the purpose of the motion was to enable the whole matter to be debated and decided upon. Personally, he had been one of the first to introduce deputations in support of the South Island Main Trunk line and he had consistently supported the project, but he now moved the motion with a sense of his duty as Prime Minister in which position he was trustee for the people of the country. Responsibilities were tnrown on the members of the Government at present, Mr. Forbes continued, which had not been called for previously. What could be supported under more favourable economic conditions could in the present circumstances no longer be supported. The Railways Board had reported that if the lines under construction were completed, it could only mean big financial losses to the country. Losses could only be met by further retrenchments. He felt the House was of the opinion that they should keep their finances in a sound position. Unprofitable railway systems were loaded on to the railway service and that was bad from the point of view of the railwaymen. The investigations had been carried out very carefully. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Independant Reform, Gisborne) : "Qh! Question — Mr. G. C. Black (Independent, Motueka) : "They reported before they heard the evidence." Careful Examination After a careful examination of all the information that had been collected, Mr. Forbes proceeded, the Board's considered opinion was that the lines under construction would only add to railway losses. A member: "You didn't think that in 1928." Mr. Forbes: "The position to-day is different from that of 1928. A great deal of water has flowed under the bridge since that time. In 1928 we didn't have the world depression. The financial position of this country is right down to the limit and unless we face the position the end may be disastrous. The situation must be faced by those in responsible positions." Mr. Forbes said that if the Government went on to the market to raise money for lines which had been condemned by the Railways Board, it would have no chance of getting it. They had to face the facts of the present. It was no use talkiilg of the past. Inter-Island Passengers Continuing, Mr. Forbes said it was a matter of very grave doubt whether the passenger traffic to the South Island would be diverted from the present Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service by the South Island Main Trunk. In regard to the Putorino-Wairoa line, the district served was already served by motor transport and by sea. Dealing with the West Coast railway, Mr. Forbes said it was claimed that this would be a means of improving the coal output, but the fact was that half of the coal mines at present working were only working half time. The position in regard to timber was very much the same. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, said Mr. Forbes had furnished a very good reason for Parliament going to the country immediately. He had given the most remarkable renunciation of election pledges the Ilouse had ever seen. The United Party secured office in 1928 on the very policy Mr Forbes was now seeking to destroy. That part of "Sir Joseph Ward's policy had been the soundest of all and Mr. Holland believed that railway construction was still sound. The honourable course for the Government to take was to sav it found that it could not give effect to the policy it had been elected to carry out, and to hsk the country for a further expression of opinion. Charge of Incapacity "All Mr Forbes has said amounted to a charge of incapacity against the United Government," Mr Holland continued. "If the lines were constructed on a sound betterment- principle, they would be safeguarded against any possible loss. He stated the case in support of the WestportInangahua line and said he favoured completion of the construction of all lines. If the work ceased, what was to be done with the 1500 workers and their dependents, 5000 persons all told? The Railways Board's report meant the cessation of work on all the lines under construction and it looked to him like the influence of the oil interests against the national railways. That was the growing view throughout the Dominion. Two deputations that day had made an unanswerable case and no doubt the same could be said for the East Coast line. The Board's "proposals were un~ economic, said "Mr. Holland, and constituted one of the most disastrous proposals ever put before the House. Mr. Lysnar, opposed the cessation of construction, particularly in his own district, as "vicious and unwise." Main trunk lines, he said, should be completed, instead of spending money on unproductive railway worlcs such as terminal stations. Unless the Gisborne line was completed

the whole district would be isolated. He contended that it would return 14 per cent. profit. The Railways Board had not taken into account the amount of land development. Syndicate Take Over The Hon. K. S. Williams (Reform, Bay of Plenty), supported the completion of the Gisborne line and asked if the Government was prepared to allow a syndicate to take it over. He gave notice to move an Amendment that the East Coast line go on. Mr E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South), suggested that the Railways Board had been purposely set up to bring down an adverse report as that was a task the Government was not prepared to face. The one object of its existence was to close down the railways. He supported railway constructi3n as a means of opening up more land for settlement. There were too many gaps in the railway system of the Dominion. Mr. E. F. Ilealy (United, Wairau) said the main South line meant progress to Marlborough, which it had been denied for many years. The board's report was a confession of weakness and inability to deal with a natiorial question. He was prepared to go to the electorate and stand or fall on the South Island line. The Ne)w SS^aland railways would get nowhere until there was a through line froin the North to the South of the Dominion.