TO BE MAINTAINED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 40, 9 October 1931, Page 3

TO BE MAINTAINED

("Post" Special Commissioner).

UNCOMPLETED railway lines may interest syndicates MINISTER'S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, Thurs. The important announcement was made to-day in the House of Representatives by Mr Coates that if Legislative approved of the recommendations of the Railways Board to suspend construction on railway lines, the tracks already laid will not be torn up, but will be kept under maintenance. Mr. Coates said that the suggestion had been made that if construction work was stopped, the materials and the work done would be scrapped. "That, in my opinion," he added "would be a very retrograde policy." . Mr. Lysnar : "But you will be doing that by adopting the report." "That- is not the position at all," Mr. Coates replied. "The adoption of this report does not mean that the railway lines under construction are to be ripped up. That is not the. intention of the Government. Portions of the lines which have been completed will be maintained. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. E. Holland): "What will that cost?" Mr Coates said that the cost of putting them in a position to he maintained was estimated at £5,600 on the Wharanui-Parnassls line; £20,000 on the Putorino-Wairoa line and £2,600 on the Westport-Inangahua j line. There would also be maintenI ance to provide for after that I "What will he done with all the materials?" Mr Holland asked. The Minister replied that they would have to be housed. He repeated that it would be unwise and unjustifiable to tear up the lines and no one could reasonably argue otherwise. Mr Holland: "Do you anticipate that the lines will have to be completed ? " Mr Coates: "I don't anticipate anything, but I do say that we will want to look carefully into the whole question of transport before we take any hasty aetion." Mr. Holland/: "Would it 'not be better to delay any action until, after the election?" (Laughter). Mr. Coates: "In my opinion such matters, partieularly at this time, should he removed from political controversy. In the present circumistances I thing the electors may be misled." Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour Avon). "You are not quite sure you can trust the people?" Mr Coates: "That is my faith; trust the people." He said that if the lines were maintained, as he thought they should be, proposals might be put forward by syndicates and companies to run railway services," Mr. Holland: "Hand them over to private enterprise." Mr Coates said that if companies were prepared to run services on any portion of the lines", that would be an indication that the services were worth running. He added that he had received at least one inquiry of the kind already. He took it that companies would either run the services themselves, or guarantee the Government against loss. Among those who voted against the Government was Mr. H. Atmore, exMinister of Education. Mr W. A. Yeitch was absent from the House.