NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND RAILWAYS.

TEN ENGINES FROM AMERICA. Pee Press Association. Wellington, January 26. The Government has placed an order with the American firm of Burnham, Williams and Co., Philadelphia, manufacturers of Baldwin engines, for ten locomotives of the first class. Speaking fo a Post reporter, the Minister of Railways said he was following the procedure adopted by Sir Joseph Ward in a similar situation in 1902. In the General Manager’s report the acuteness of the position has been pointed out. The engine power is woefully deficient, and accounted for the greater part of the complaints .about shortage of trucks. The Baldwin Company offer immeasurably better terms, both as to price and time bf 'delivery, tbe latter being an important point. The best English offer, was from the North British Company, which was to complete the ten engines in seven months ready for shipping, at a cost of £4780 per engine; whereas the Baldwin offer was to complete in 60 days at £3229 per engine. To enable future requirements to be met, new workshops, capable of building ten locomotives yearly, are to be erected at Newmarket. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S REPLY. Commenting on the above, Sir Joseph Ward said that it was amusing to find the Governmnet attempting to justify its action by using him for the purpose of comparing what they were doing now with what was carried out during the period he was Minister for Railways.

“But the Minister in his attempt ,at justifying the procedure his Government is now adopting has entirely over-reached himself,” said Sir Joseph, “and he makes a palpable misstatement. He says that in 1899 Sir Joseph Ward also imported from the United States sixteen engines. As a matter of fact I was not Minister for Railways in 1899, as can be seen from the records, i I did not take office as head o fthe railways until 1900. Soon after I took office I brought the matter before Cabinet, with a view to having the whole of the railways stock made in New Zealand. Acting on my suggestion, Cabinet arrived at a decision to make provision at the railway workshops for the construction of locomotives, and, in addition, to have a number made by private enterprise in the country, and not to import further engines or rolling stock as soon as this provision to make them locally could be provided. This policy was carried out strictly after 1902, and neither engines nor rolling stock were thereafter imported. In addition to the locomotives made in the railway workshops, Messrs Price Brothers have since regularly received orders for locomotives. “I have no hesitation in saying,” concluded Sir Joseph, “that the country ought to make the whole of its own locomotives and rolling •stock. In any case, at this juncture, it the Government found itself com-! polled to get engines from abroad the* importation, in m yopinion, should have been given in Great Britain, even if the price was higher. England is the heart of the Empire, and is vitally affected in this world war. Up to now it is unfortunate, but it is a fact, the policy of America has been of mighty little assistance to the British Empire. Moreover, the British Government has, since the war static I found five and a half millions of moner for New Zealand at 3} pci cent, interest. Surely then our recognition of such services during tne extramdi;:ary conditions through which the Empire is passing warrants rur giving a preference to the Mother-.and, even though it costs us more to do so.