More Trade To Bay Of Plenty Expected With New Rail Link

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 15, 22 July 1949, Page 5

More Trade To Bay Of Plenty Expected With New Rail Link

More trade benefits to the Bay of Plenty fat stock industry are envisaged from an inspection of the proposed north rail route from Matawai /to Taneatua which was •carried out last week by members of Gisborne local bodies as well as delegates from the Auckland and Opotiki Chambers' of Commerce, It is hoped (states the Gisborne Herald) to open the block in this arterial system and to start freight from as far south as Dannevirke moving north through Gisborne and Tauranga to the Auckland markets. This would reduce congestion on the overloaded Taihape-Okahukura section of the main trunk line. It is believed that because southern Bay of Plenty 'fat stock at present, faces the long haul to the Horotiu works on the Auckland side of Hamilton would probably take the shorter route to the Kaiti works at Gisborne. This factor and the expansion of the Bay of Plenty fat stock industry, which would' follow the provision of better transport would benefit the Gisborne and Napier farmers and relieve the congestion at Auckland. On these considerations it is argued the provision of this rail link would have far reaching and beneficial effects on both transport and production.