SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 224, 15 September 1908, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK.

By I olograph.—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. A huge deputation, representing every local body between Pieton and Unlenbury, and including several Cantenbury members of Parliament, waited 011 the Premier to urge the completion of the South Island Main Trunk line. Many of those present spoke ureijiit thai now tiiat the North Island Main 'ink line was completed the Government should put a large rote (say £2OO,OUU a year for five years) on the estimates to finish this line. ■ Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, admitted the inlluenhnl nature of the deputa-' tion, hut held out no hopes that such 1111 amount as was mentioned could be devoted to this work. The votes bail already been allocated for this year and he recommended them to await the Public Works Statement. The demands for railways at this moment amounted to £12,000,000, and to -rant all these was quite out of the question. Ihcre wore seventeen or eighteen lines still to lie completed, and tliev must have first consideration. The' whole country could -iot be waitiim for the completion of one big )i nPr When were out of the way there would be more money available for this line.