WAIAU RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14885, 27 January 1914, Page 5

WAIAU RAILWAY LEAGUE.

PRESSING FOR COMMENCEMENT OF LINE. Tho Executive Committee of tho Waiau Railway Loaguo met on Saturday evening, to consider a letter received from the Minister of Public Works relative to tho League's request that he should fix a date for the turning of the first sod of the Culverden"Waiau Railway Extension. Mr j< , . Foster occupied the chair. Mr Frasor wrote that the survey of tho line was not yet complete, but that ivhen it was ho would be pleased to discuss the matter of the date with the League. Tho Chairman stated that they had had information that the survey had been completed a. month ago, and that 'plans had been forwarded before the New Year to headquarters for approval. In view of this, tho Minister's statement seemed to him to be unnecessarily deferring the commencement of the work. Ho did not like the position at all, and the Minister was merely trying to put tho settlers off, and they should have something definite.to say on the matter. Mr Gale endorsed the chairman's remarks, and added that the League had themselves to blame for the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply. The Executive officers of the League had shown a good deal of laxity during the past six weeks, and were apparently willing to let the matter go by default. They had lost a very valuable opportunity to get into personal touch with the Hou. W. Fraser when ho spent a whole week in and around Christchurch. Tho editor of a Christchurch newspaper had stated in a leading article recently that tho East Coast lino was the mast important Canterbury work at tho present time, and tho secretary should have controverted that statement. He hoped that the League would take definite action. Mr M. M. Crampfcon stated that the engineers were still at Ijtotherham, and apparently doing nothing. Mr Beaven urged patience. There wero two routes to eurvey, and tho engineer was probably awaiting a definite eelection before going on with the survey. He further stated that it would be useless to start for a week or two on account of harvest. Mr Kennedy considered tho League had no cause to complain. They did not know the ins and outs of the Public Works department, and they had not the right to dictate to the Minister what he should do. Politically he had no regard for the Government, but in their case they were, and had been, getting a square and fair_deal. After further discussion Mr Gale moved : —That the • president, vicepresident, and secretary be empowered to arrange for a deputation to wait -upon the Minister of Public Works and the Prime Minister in connexion with the commencement of the work if such action was deemed necessary. Mr Rinaldi seconded the motion, which was carried. It was also decided to telegraph to the Minister as follows: —"Regret to hear that the survey of the CulverdenWaiau railway was not complete at tho time of the dispatch of your communication dated January 7th; trust that survey now complete. If not will you use influence to have the matter pushed on to facilitate the commencement of construction?" A motion of sympathy was passed to tho widow of the late Mr Penwell.