HON. A. M. MYERS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10632, 10 May 1912, Page 5

HON. A. M. MYERS

HIS VISIT iu CHRISTCHURCH

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CMISTICeUiRCIR,, (Last Xigilit. The Hon. ,A. M, Myers, Minister of Railways, who arrived in C;brist- ...". ~clnurcli.'tihiis,mwniag,.6:pent, an exceedinioj'.y busy (two hours before lunch'. •j jDep'uiLfciqnis,. public and private, suc- ' ceeded one. another aMitili no breathing space between. 'When the last had been disposed of, -Mir Myers made a " ibrief statemenit 'touc'iiing the object of 'his-visit ito the South Island. "My /tour of .the South I'sjand," Mr Myers | said, "is itatoeai -with a vi'ew of' exainlining the vaOhyay (System, and of meet- i dug the officers'cf the Departments,. over which I preside. It is essfutiat (that one should have tome pergonal ; Information :.n regard to way matters before adjudicating upon them. 'As I intimated to one deputation this rniiornling, it is contemplated 'tktffc .the ■ iraiilnvay Ir'aci'lities at Christchurch station shall be increased, and to that end I am feeing (furnished '\\<:*li full reports , / Ibj (my Departmental officers. Every- ■"" "mth'erte I'go I find that owing to increased .traffic, demands are being made ■ '. ■ for .iimproveirnieats. This I vier with Bonifi satisfaction, as it dkctoses the ■C fact ithat demands are made because •of itbe iinorc'a'Sed development of the country. It is any d'e'&ire that the" (Bailways Department should recognise (its- responsibility as a public carrier, and should give every. reasonable tfbcility to-its eusto'nwrs. It is quite i .clear, however, thai this, like every other question, is governed by the allimpdrtfan.tquest.ion o'f financ?'., and one . has to ireoogmse .the financial aspect .erf affairs ibdfore coining to a final conclusion. The policy of the Department will be to carry out those .of the* demands which, are most urgent". The Minister was asked whether he would sa'y anything on .the question] of railways, 'particularly as affecting ■the South Island Maim Trunk. "I ifrally recognise the important • part that transit plays in the develop- - mieiit of our Dominion,'" he said, "and •while there is .such an. enormous portion of its resources .still undeveloped tthe ißlailway Department has by no -, organs reached iit& ultimate. I .beilieye ithat it is desirable always to obtain ■(the fullest'data and information first, land it i/S impossible to tomch a comprehensive scheme until that has been don©."