EAST COAST RAILWAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 11, 28 March 1947, Page 5

EAST COAST RAILWAY

PRIVATE SURVEYOR’S OFFER An urgent telegram was sent last week to the Minister of Works, Mr R. Semple, asking him to definitelysupport a survey of the northern rail link from Gisborne and also to set a definite date to visit the district, states the Gisborne Herald.

The decision was reached at a recent meeting of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, which considered that it was time the Minister gave some assurance about the survey. The president, Mr T. A. N. Corson, stated that he had interviewed the Minister in Wellington last month regarding the northern rail link. Mr Semple had told him that owing to the shortage of Government surveyors, it was impossible to have a survey made of the route at present.

On his return to Gisborne, Mr Corson said he had seen a private surveyor, who had stated that he would undertake the survey for a fee of £IOO. Of this amount, £75 alreadj'- had been promised by business men connected with the chamber. Mr Semple had not yet stated whether the survey should be carried out, and he thought the chamber should make urgent representations to the Minister asking that he expedite the matter. Also, Mr Semple had promised to visit the district before the next sitting of Parliament, and he should be asked for a definite date on which members of the chamber could meet him and conduct him through the proposed northern rail route.