TO BE COMPLETED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1942, Page 4

TO BE COMPLETED

BLENHEIM-KAIKOURA LINK OF SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. ONE MEANS OF SAVING RUBBER & PETROL. (By Telegranh—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. After many months during which work has been practically at a standstill because men were required elsewhere on urgent undertakings, the War Administration has reached a decision to complete the Blenheim-Kaikoura link of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. Following on this, the railhead will be pushed northwards from Hundalee as far as possible. This was announced by the Minister of Railways (Mr Semple) last night, when he addressed representatives of commercial and industrial interests on transport problems. He said the decision had been made on his recommendation, as part of a scheme to conserve existing rubber supplies. Only about ten miles of plate-laying and twenty of ballasting remained to be completed north of Kaikoura. The Minister estimated that, by pushing the job and working three shifts daily, they could get to Kaikoura in five months. “If we can do- this, we shall save approximately 100,00(1 gallons of petrol and between 400 and 500 heavy duty tires annually,” the Minister said, pointing out that, -with the completion of this link, motor vehicles operating on the route would have to come off the road. Mr Semple said arrangements had been made to secure further supplies of rails and as far as he could see there were no obstacles to prevent the plans being carried out. In the gap south of Kaikoura. there were two bridges that might hold them up a bit for materials.