PROMISES NOT KEPT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 60, 30 July 1947, Page 6

PROMISES NOT KEPT

EAST COAST LINE DISAPPOINTMENT IN OPOTIKI Extreme disappointment that no provision was made in the 10-year plan recently unfolded by Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Works, for the completion- of the Taneatua-Opotiki link of the railway, was expressed by members at a recent meeting of'the Opotiki Chamber of Commerce. After repeated promises by the late and present Prime Ministers and also by the Minister of Works, that the line would be completed at an early date, members expressed the opinion that the minister was becoming senile and that the only thing left was to make representations direct to the Prime Minister.

The discussion arose when a letter was received from the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce on subject of the railway link, stating that Mr Semple was addressing the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce on the matter and suggesting that one or two delegates from Opotiki attend the meeting in Whakatane. The chairman, Mr E. C. East, said that there was one meeting in Whakatane which was a private meeting between the Minister and the Whakatane County Council on council matters and the chamber had no chance of making representations. The 10-year plan as unfolded at Tauranga, made no provision for high priority for the railway. As far as the railway was concerned the district was further back than when it started. “The Minister of Works is now getting senile, and we should go direct to the Prime Minister,” said Mr East.

Mr C. Gordon: “What reliance can we place in a minister who gives a 10-year plan such as that when the railway has been promised for years?” . The main theme should be to get the promise of the Taneatua-Opotiki line fulfilled. If a promise was any good they should be able to rely on the line being completed and the chamber should take a strong line to get it started. How could the people have any confidence in a 10-year plan when the minister would not fulfil promises already made. Mr Gordon supported direct representations to the Prime Minister, and he moved in that direction. Mr East said that it was felt that this district was more or less in a backwash. There was no .reason why Opotiki should not be able to carry at least double the borough population. The district had also facilities to offer tourists. There was a move to take small factories to country towns where there was Maori labour offering. There should be one or two small industries in Opotiki staffed by Maori labour. Opotiki had been left out in the cold for many years. In seconding Mr Gordon’s motion, Mr East said that Opotiki could not expect much support for anything it needed from its nearest neighbour, Whakatane. We will have to fight for ourselves and get the railway to Opotiki,” said Mr East. The motion was carried . unanimously.

It was decided to forward a copy of the letter to the member for the district.

Mr Gordon said that the motion in no way detracted from the importance of the Gisborne link, but the first thing was to get the line to Opotiki.