SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 987, 2 June 1930, Page 10

SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK

MR. COATES’S ATTITUDE MR. W. J. GIRLING EXPLAINS Press Association BLENHEIM, Sunday. Speaking at Christchurch a few days *.»go the Leader of the Labour Party, Air. 11. E. Holland, in referring to railway construction matters, stated that during the last election campaign, when there was a danger of Reform losing the Wairau seat. Mr. W. J. Girling, then member for the district, announced that he had the Rt. Hon. J. O. Coates’s authority to say that the South Island Alain Trunk railway- would be completed, but Reform lost the scab and then opposed conclusion of the line. This statement was referred to Mr. Girling, who stated that at no line during the last election campaign did lie receive a message from Air. Coate:? that he would complete the SouTi Mair, Trunk railway, nor did he make such a statement during the campaign. Reference in his addresses to Air. Coates ? attitude toward the railway was to the effect that when Air. Coates was speaking in the House of Representatives on railway construct'd; he (Mr. Girling) had interjected an<“ asked the then Prime Alinister, “VThr--. bout the South Islajid Alain Trunk line?” Air. Coates had replied that after the completion of the Westport - Inangahua line he would turn attention to the South Island Ala'f Trunk. “Quite a number of members of Parliament,” said Air. Girling, “have made statements similar to that now made by* the Leader of the Labour .. it my duty to make the position clear.