LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1365, 16 February 1912, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

TO TEST THE PARTY,

Sir,—Jf Iho Iki'orm parly are n Reform parly, let them investigate the unite which has been chosen for the section i'f (hi) East' Coast railway from Napier. Our baths, which were in cost us .t-KIOO, liiivo cost: .USUI!!). Our municipal theatre, which was to cost .£20,110(1, will now cost .t;lI,(lUC. Our trams will bring Inc rates up lo os. in the X. On lop of this we are starting a railway to Oisborne, which will pi-ohaidv not get there for twenty years. And instead of building it lo pay as it goes, it could not have been laid oil in a moro unprolitable direction. Ist.—lt traverses seven miles of shingle beach, with water on either side. 2nd.—lt traverses a vnllsy .so narrow that there is not room for road, river, and railway. :ird.—The hills on either side are secondclass and precipitous, anil there is practically no pkmgliable land. ■It'h.—Thi: route leads into direct competition with motor and s«i traffic. sth.—The amount set aside to cover the h'i>t section of 15 miles will not pay for tin. first embanknwnt of one mile.

Glh.—Called a Main Trunk has been planned without foresight as to future branch extensions. 7th.—As an aid to close settlement the whole of (he first section is valueless, and it will be a source of weakness rather than strength from a defence point 'of view. Slh.—lt has only one recommendation from a Departmental point of view—ballast will be obtained at a low cost. 9th.—lt has been manipulated by the same section of the community which has already spent .£500,003 on a harbour estimated'to cost .C 250.000, and now requiring a further 4:500,000 to complete. lflth.—Although Ihe first section hugs the coast, wool-growers on the coast will still cart or ship their wool to Napier, just as farmers in the south find it cheaper to use traction engines on the road' than avail themselves of short sections of railway. The route for the first section could havo been chosen:

(1) To give a double service between Napier and Hastings, for though starting from Napier, Hastings could put in a connecting loop line. (2) To shorten the distance for through passengers from Gisborne to Wellington. 13) It would traverse rich reclaimed swamp, the properly of the Harbour Board. (■fi Serve (ho populous suburbs of Mecanee. Oi'eenmeado'.vs, Taradale, and l'uketapu. ■ ' (5) Open up rich plains and ploughable hills throughout- the whole /first section.

(ti) iJy taking a wider sweep tap not only all the Native lands to be reached via" thi> chosen route, but tho To Hnroto Estate of 100,000 acres, the whole Moliaka Valley, and Government lands therein, the Pukekitiri, Hemllcv, and I'ohiii Bush. (7) Constitute without cost the first section at a railway in a direct line between Tatipo and Napier, and so ultimately connect with the whole lako system.

(8) The distance via the proposed route of Taradale-Pukel.ipu-P.itoka and l'nhui would not be more than 12 miles' longer than tho chosen route via Pclane and Ihe. Esk River Valley, instead of 10 odd stated by Sir ,1. G. Ward. .

(9) Thereby enabling quick mobilisation of troops and concentration at; any outlying point or central position. , (101 Satisfy the .whole people of . tho province who would all immediately admit the wisdom of rho choice if no unnecessary delay takes place in making; tho change. ' ... ' ' .. (11) l.'nite. the, people of , Napier and Hastings, and;' niieo'.for all, 'crush out of existence lhe r rotteu.inetliods..S\'Jiicli seem almost to havo-.b'ecqnie. tho rule , 'in Napier.

I have been four years tenants', representative on the Land Board, and know every portion of (he Hawke's Bay district. Mr.'Mason Chambers, a wise and farseeing man. chairman of the Hnwke's Hay County Council, and respected by the whole community, can endorse almost all 1 have said. I pledged myself to the electors of Hnwke's Bay to serve them faithfully whether elected to Parliament or not, and I cannot think of a greater service than to help lo influence this railway in .a right direction. The'turning of the, first, sod and all the work and flag-waving which lias been done need not deter an honest party from doing its duty, and restarting on a proper route before any significant time or money lias been wasted.—l am. etc., EUSTACE LANE. Napier, February 3, lfll'2.