LIGHT RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 161, 25 November 1912, Page 4

LIGHT RAILWAYS.

QUESTION OP FUNDS.' By Telegraph— Press Association. Dunedin, Saturday. A joint deputation, representing the Dunedin Expansion League,, Otago Central Railway League, and Lawrence-Rox-burgh Railway League, waited upon the Hon. W, Fraser, Minister of Public Works, last evening to nrge the claims of Otago with regard to the railway and other matters. It was pointed out that there was no desire to undulv harass th« Government, but it was considered that at the present juncture an assurance might be given that the two railways would not be neglected. In reply, the Minister ex-pressed his sympathy with the object of the deputation, but pointed out that the present was not quite the time to urge the matters laid before him. Ilaving in view the urgent necessity in various parts of the Dominion for the construction of roads and bridges, be had found it necessary to curtail railway expenditure by about £200,000 ;but he had been obtaining advice, from the Engineer-in-Chicf of Railways as to the construction of a light line up the Cromwell Gorge, and he found that, such a line could be constructed for foOOO per mile, whereas the standard lines cost from fSOOO to £IO,OOO per mile. He was not in a position to commit the Government to any definite promise, but Mr. Massey would be in Dunedin shortly and would probably be nWe lo speak with more author-