HOPE FOR THE EAST COAST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 927, 21 September 1910, Page 7

HOPE FOR THE EAST COAST.

THE DESIRED RAILWAY. , ■ (By Telegraph.—Special-Correspondent.! • Napier, Septembor 20 Interviewed this morning, Mr. E. Ellison, president of tho East Const " Railway League and a -member of ; the • - deputation whicli onythe Prime . Minister and; theV, Minister i f.or: Public. Works in Wellington, made some in- '• .toresting comments as to tie effect of . the deputation. • C'.:: 1 - ■ -T think,"- ho said, "that it did .'good. '; It was very representative of the 'interests • concerned. id though ■ : '.we.. received : no'.-absolute promise', from • either Minister, still they led us dis- '. ' tinctly •? to understand; that': .they; recognised that ■ in any new works; the . East .'.Coast line would -"bo one of tho. first to be taken in hand. -• We also had an .assurance: from Mr. MJKeitzie pnr- .: "Oticularly.'.that ;'the ; , disparity' which has existed up to the present in: railway expenditure in the two islands will cease,'^and-'.that'-within- > the'; .next :• few • . years-'the figures .will bo • adjusted.. ..The-. most ; cheering'thing . from my- . . point of : view, was; that wo found tho :, 0 ' representatives of ;the'southern chamb-, ers Svithout" exception',: fully ; that the East Coast line from. here to; Gisborne,' to link up the northern con- : • nection, .is the ' first ~work; which';' must 1 ' '• be: put-in liand.'. .A. fow ; years ago.l 3 found.;it impossible, to get' anyone out- , ':'■ side to take an ■ interest in the project, and ' it~ was. not very easy to interest local people.. ■ Now there is not a dis- . cordaut voice. ' - This gives mo oonfl- :, . deiu'.o, and although it is very doubt- , ful: if anything' will bo done, this ses- ;■, sioii,. still we'all feel very hopeful that tlie work will be authorised and a vote ;' p!r,be;l on;.the Estimates next session.'! "I;think," ■ Mr. Ellison added, "that the local bodies must keep the matter - before the public and. before the Government. If we. do that, we may reaBonably. hope that tho .work will bo started :within the next ' eighteen • months. It is most desirable that the Government, in view' of the early commencement; of' tho work, should -take the promptest steps to acquire the' . Native land along the route.-' ;: