RAILWAY GAP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 52, 27 February 1945, Page 7

RAILWAY GAP

STRONG MOVEMENT AFOOT

STEP BY CHAMBER At the monthly meeting of th Opotiki Chamber oi' Commerce hel the secret Mr W. His lop, read a letter from the Aucl« land Chamber of Commerce in Avhie it was stated that the Council of th Auckland Chamber of Commere had unanimously agreed to suppor the idea of the holding of a publii meeting during February or Marcl in gome suitable centre to pass reso lutions in favour of the completioi oi" the TancatuaMotuhora rail gap, and urging on the Government th< neeeS'-sitj 7 of the early survey of tht route. The Auckland Chamber woulc have been quite, happy to hold lli< meeting in Auckland, but the general feeling of the meeting was that I such a meeting staged nearer the actual location of the line say at Whakatane or Opotiki preferably Whakatane, would be more effective and would be likely to attract a larger attendance keenly interested in the prosecution of the line. It was. further suggested that a time suitable to Mr W„ Suliivan M.P., should be ai^anged. The Opotiki Chamber of Commerce replied that it would be. pleased to fall in with the wishes of the majority of the Chambers interested, as to the time and place of the suggested conference. As Opotiki is midway between Gisborne and Tauranga it was suggested that the conference could' he arranged in Opotiki. Mir Sullivan was being communicated Avith. A letter was also written to the Gisborne Chamber on the matter. The Opotiki Chamber appointed the Raihvay sub-committee recently set up, to deal with the matter. Since the meeting the Opotiki Chamber of Commerce has> received i further letter from the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce on the mat- 1 ;er ? enclosing a circular letter to all chambers and additional copies for ;he use of local bodies Avhicli avou'M ie invited to the meeting. The circular letter states that the neeting will be held in Whakatane it 8 p.m. on March 7 to move mor ions urging the completion of the "aneatua-Matawai link in the Gis-»orne-Auckland raihvay. The date ind venue of the meeting were suggested by the Auckland Chamber of ]ommerce ) and Avere approved by lie executive of the Gisborne cham>er when members met Mr W. Sullian, M.P., in Gisborne. Mr H. H. Jarker Ava& appointed spokesman for Jisborne at the meeting and other peakers probably Avill represent 3potiki Whakatane, Tauranga anci Auckland. Hamilton Te Puke Ro- ■) > orua, Matamata and Morrinsville diambers have also been invited to :end representathes, and each ■liamber has been invited to issue nvitations to the respective local mthorities in their districts. Members. of Parliament have also been is'ked to attend. Emphasising the importance of ananimity among all districts that Aoukl benefit from the line, Mr ivan paid a tribute to the efforts if the Gisborne Chamber, which had taken the initiative and Avhicli Avith Auckland Avas now giving strength to the move. Other centres should lie educated regarding the adA*antages that would accrue to them from the completion of the raihvay, he said pointing out the effect it Avoukl have on settlement and the transport of stock. Several speakers referred to the great importance of the line to the Waikato which Avas hoav receiving less East Const stock than formerly because of connection, by rail south.