MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 45, 21 February 1913, Page 7

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

MR FRASER IX THE SOUTH. (Per Press Association.) Invercargill, February 20. The Minister of Public Works, Mr W. Fraser, is on a visit to Southland, and left Invercargill tins’morning for Orepuki and Tuatapere. Ho was entertained at dinner at the latter place, and received several deputations concerning local requirements. In an interview, speaking of the loan raised by the Hon. Jas. Allen at Home, Mr Fraser said that he thought that Mr Allen had been very successful indeed in getting the loan underwritten at the price and on the terms he had. Asked whether the loan would have any affect on his public works policy, Mr Fraser said that the obtaining of the loan would not have any effect, because all the money to be devoted to public works was earmarked according to last year’s estimates. The loan money would probably supply funds to carry on works until the end of October. Referring to railway matters, Mi Fraser said, in answer to a question, that he was still in favor of branch lines being light lines and not standard lines. They could lie made at probably half the cost and with the same gauge as the other lines, Jiui. grade might be a little heavier and the curves a little shorter. Such alterations would mcary that trains would have to travel "slower, but, so far as produce was concerned, it could be carried just as effectually as on standard lines.