THE RAILWAYS

Southland Times, Issue 21100, 4 June 1930, Page 6

THE RAILWAYS

MAIN TRUNK LINE PRE-ELECTION ATTITUDE OF MR COATES STATEMENT BY MR E. F. HEALY (Per United Press Association.) Blenheim, June 3. The following statement was made by Mr E. F. Healy, M.P., to a representative of the Express in reply to Mr W. J. Girlings references to the pre-election attitude of Mr Coates in respect to .the. project of completing the South Island Main Trunk railway. . , , “In reply to Mr Girling’s attitude regarding a'mysterious telegram from Mr Coates to himself as to the completion of the Main Trunk fine, and his defence of Mr Coates in a late issue of .the Express, I feel bound to observe that his statement will no doubt make the electors wonder where Mr Girling himself stands in the matter of construction and finishing this great national undertaking. Mr Girling states that at no time during the last election campaign did he receive a message from Mr Forbes that he would complete the South Main Trunk railway, nor did he make such statement during the campaign. A copy of the Express with Mr Girling’s Spring Creek speech was produced in the House and Sir Joseph Ward read word for word what Mr Girling said there and this was that on completion of the Westport-Inangahua line he, Mr Coates, would immediately proceed with completion of the Main South Trunk line. Further than that, Mr Girling in his last Blenheim address, actually waved a telegram, or supposed telegram, on the platform and repeated what he said at Spring Creek regarding Mr Coates’ promise. I myself, later in the session, together with Mr H. E. Holland and Mr D. Sullivan, read a . reference made to this railway by Mr Girling in his Spring Creek speech, as also did the Hon. H. Atmore. This has all gone unchallenged till now. After an interval of 18 months, Mr Girling’s election secretary actually told Mr G. C. Black, the member for Motueka, and myself, in company, that he read the telegram to defend Mr Girling’s election statement in the House as he Was not there to defend himself. I, on one visit to Blenheim during the session, asked Mr Girling if he. could let me use his telegram to protect his word in the House, but Mr Girling aclvised me that the telegram was of such minor importance in its reference to the railway that he had torn it up and burned it. Now he advises all New Zealand where he stands. Mr Coates is of more importance to him than our railway, and he has never received any wire. All I can say is that this is political effrontery. Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, made reference in Christchurch to the railway in all good'faith. As. to Mr Girling’s references at Spring Creek being correctly reported, I do not like, coining into this controversy with a political opponent, but one cannot leave this remarkable departure from facts and home truths as they have been .understood all. along, to go unchallenged, especially as it affects one of our largest and most necessary undertakings in the Dominion.. Besides, especially as Mr Girling’s statements have been broadcasted throughout New Zealand, I feel strongly that I owe it to Mr H. E. Holland, Mr D. G. Sullivan, the Hon. H. Atmore and other friends of the undertaking to protect their integrity.