EAST COAST RAIL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 1, 24 August 1943, Page 5

EAST COAST RAIL

AERIAL SURVEY SUGGESTED A plea to the Government to arrange for aerial surveys between Motuhora and Taneat.ua, with a view to the completion of the railway line, was made by Mr W. Sullivan,. M.P. for Bay of Plenty, when discussing railway construction Estimates in the House of Representatives. Mr Sullivan said that in connection with the vote of £1000' for the Taneatua-Opotiki railway, which formed part of the East Coast main trunk railway, the Minister should arrange for aerial surveys between Motuhora and Taneatua. If that line werei completed, the intermediate area would materially benefit. There were about 50,000 people in the districts referred to, and. during the previous year about 205,000 head of stock had been taken from the East Coast area. The East Coast was a valuable breeding'ground for stock; and porduction would be trebled if the railway and settlement could be pushed ahead. The Bay of Plenty was the Cinderella of the North Island so far as railways and roads were concerned, said. Mr Sullivan. If the PaeroaPokeno gap were completed., much traffic congestion at the Frankton Junction railway station would be obviated. A railway between Taneatua and Opotiki had been promised by the late Prime Minister. The railway was needed, and he urged the Minister to make an aerial survey *of the. whole route so that the work could be proceeded with at the earliest, possible moment.