CLOSING THE GAP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 26, 21 November 1944, Page 5

CLOSING THE GAP

AUCKLAND GISBORNE LINE

GROWTNG SUPPORT .Ample evidence of the interest arouse,d both in and out of the Gisborne district in the. question of the completion of the Auckland-Gisbome railway by the bridging of the. gap between Taneatua and was furnished on Wednes-day night. at the, monthly meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, states Ibe Gisborne Herald. Correspondence supporting t'U' proposal had been received from Auckland Whakatme, and Opotiki chambers. At meetings during the past Jew months.- the chamber had been engaged in pressing for the closing of the gap, and on Tuesday night the Te Puke chamber forwarded a communication in support of the. project, which was favourably received by Gisborne. members-. Much, correspondence in regard to the matter was before the meeting. The question of what had been termed "the bat tie of routes" was raised by the cTmirman j Mr W. E. Mellwaine who pointed out that the chamber could not prefer any route but at the same time, he j " personally, would like to see the line go by way of Opotiki. 1 Mr E. li. Marriner said that the chamber should take no part whatsoever in the deciding of a suitable track, not even to the exteait of. expressing <1 hope that it would proceed through certain districts. Rehabilitation Aspects Mr H. 11. Barker supported these sentiments and spoke, of the importance not only to the East Coast ? but to the whole of the North Island, of the completion of the last link in the railway network. - lie also referred to the matter of rehabilitation saying that the conception regarding the finding of work for returned servicemen oil the proposed line as a point in favour of an immediate start, in its construction would mean opportunities to provide many servicemen with farms and work. The secretary. -i\lr M. J. White, read a letter sent to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, by the Auckland chamber referring to the conference remits and pointing out that it was not. .satisfied with the Associated Chamber's amendment to Auckland's remits and by the fact tiiat the Gisborne remit had been entirely eliminated. It submitted the following remit on behalf of the Gisborne. chamber and- to be seconded by the Auckland chamber : "That this confcrencc urges upon the Government as a rehabilitation measure and as a matter of national importance the necessity for the completion of the .gap in the national railway sj'stem and for the setting up of an expert committee to consider and report on the necessary steps to be taken to effect economic co-ordination in the country's transport by rail road, sea and air both passenger and goods." The chairman reported that the chamber had had a number of pamphlets compiled by Mr Barker printed for distribution to all the chambers concerned and the Ministers'. The pamphlets urged support in the bridging of the railway gaps.