OTIRA-BEALEY RAILWAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 59, 2 November 1912, Page 6

OTIRA-BEALEY RAILWAY.

IN COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, November 2. The House mot at 10.30 this morning and went into committee on the Public Works Estimate. On the Railways Vote for £1,304,500 Mr Pearce (Patea) moved to reduce the item of £17,000 for the Otira-Bealey line by £1 as an indication that a commission should be sot up to inquire whether the line would pay . Mr Guinness (Grey) said the railway would prove valuable for freighting coal, and he quoted figures which showed a saving of 2s 2d per ton in favour of rail from the West Coast to Christchurch. Double handling, which was detrimental to coal, had also to be considered. The carriage of timber would he an important factor in the line.

Mr Pearce said the coal could he carried on scows at a lower freight than was by the Union Company. He also contended that the timber industry on the Coast was not extensive.

Mr McKenzie (Motueka) said he would like to see Mr Pearce piloting a scow over the Grey River bar. The amendment was rejected by 48 votes to 4 .