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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 11 (March 1, 1929)

Mr. Coates's Speech

page 16

Mr. Coates's Speech.

On rising to respond to the Parliamentary toast, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates received an ovation. He said:

“I acknowledge the courtesy of the Government in inviting me, and the facilities placed in my way to inspect the wonderful work of New Zealand engineers who, with the help of an outside expert and those fine fellows, the New Zealand men, completed this great task in such a satisfactory manner. I don't know really whether it is a good or a bad thing. It opens up new problems. For one thing, while the ‘Black Hole’ was in existence, the members for Canterbury, Otago and Southland were united on at least one point. The problem of the old system made the South Island members pull together, and they did so with some success. But what about poor, benighted Wellington and Auckland? (Laughter.) Canterbury has been in the lead in many things. It had the first railway, the first Government hydro-electric scheme, and now it had the second stretch of railway to be electrified in the country, while the North lags behind. I may say, for what it is worth, that we should progress to the point of getting all lines electrified.

Canterbury'S Well-Sheltered Harbour. Lyttelton, the busy port of Canterbury, and the terminal point of the Inter-Island train and ferry service.

Canterbury'S Well-Sheltered Harbour.
Lyttelton, the busy port of Canterbury, and the terminal point of the Inter-Island train and ferry service.

“Ladies and gentlemen, don't forget the Progress League, and all the other people who, with a united voice, cried for the improvement of the tunnel. It was finally done, on an economic basis, and soon will be through as far as Addington. Just as railway economics indicate, so New Zealand will electrify her railway lines. We will not stand still—we will continue and gradually electrify many lines.

“It gives me great pleasure to see my old friend Sir Joseph Ward here in health and fitness, and I hope his leadership is a pleasant one—though it is not my job to make it pleasant! (Laughter.) Certainly, the policy of growing our own wheat is right. What protection wheat growers have will certainly remain for some time to come. That, at least, will stop some New Zealand money from going out of the country, and tend to make our country self reliant while the cost to the consumer compares favourably. I bear a message from those in the North, congratulating you on the work that has been done, and lauding the great incentive the pioneers gave you. The problem is now how best to carry on the heritage that the pioneers handed down.”