LATE GOVERNMENT'S BLUNDER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1518, 14 August 1912, Page 5

LATE GOVERNMENT'S BLUNDER.

Sir,—Considerable enthusiasm is again being. aroused the Waimarino district; over the proposed branch line to Eaetihi. Commenting on the action of the electors in raising a petition for the line to be put in along the cheapest and cosiest worked route, the "Waimarino County Call" remarks: "That the argument of the. petitioners is sound," and candidly admits that the Ohakune East route is nn "error of judgment or even worse." The committal of the blunder must be viewed from a selfish standpoint, seeing that some of the people of Baetihi keep quiet and oJlow thousands of pounds to lie absolutely' thrown away, in order that tli'ey -liny have their own ends served first. I feel sure that if the Baetihi people displayed a little, more energy and worked harder ill the dircctic.n of getting the line. constructed along the cheaper route they would expedite, the work. It is an admitted fact that the line, branching off at. Ohakune to Rangatnua, is tlio correct route, cheaper in construction, serving more..-people, and 1 much . more economically worked when completed. 'Phe remarks of the Raetihi paper admit all this, and .it is to be-hoped tlmt the pre?e.nt Cjov.c'rnment.- will deal with the matter in a -mdre business-like method than did their predtwors. and show to Hi° countrv that Dior <lo not foftr to do what is right and best for the district. What were the eld party doing to allow a inncticvn to be mads nt O-h-akuno East? Why. the whole thing is' lipid up to ridicule by all who pass thrSngh by tli- Main Trunk'. AVli'v did t.h'ev not Consult even, the engine-drivers? Thov are forever complaining of the waste aiul extra work in Martin? out ■ot Dio station. going either wfiv. 'it' • ni'iite. a bv-wwd thai UiO; «r;iite- are-ruining the "nioimt.iin clinib'ei.<." and in my opinian Ohakune ):i>t. j: the ceu-e of marc trouble Ih:<n any other part of the line. Tb<! engine."!';, ore v-wiitiKU* in fheir; opinion.-, mwfiiin? M»' route of thi--. branch line, and must. ad-| lint that- I-ian-Mts.ua b?.s far mors natural j advantages for s junction, station raid, • ! t.-: aiivthing in. connsctioa with the es- ] ten<ioii of -si o'rks. aid wcitio: of trains:!

than any oilier town aloiiK the .M'.'.in Trunk. It's a groat ]>ily tli.it our "fsir-and-M|imr(Mlral" Prime Minister <':iiiii:>! fiml tini" to come un and vifiv the country for liiin.sctr, ho that, lie could get n pKjier idea, of tlie respective routes. 'I'm my mind lie could only come f:i the one decision— I hat by cfinstructins this lino along the c.liwiper route to Itanwtaua thousands of pound-: would ho raved to the country, and this money would bo available for improving (lie awful roads round about the district, and so lighten lh« burden of thn poor struggling settlers, who through the lons winter months live like hermits fcr the want of decent rands. —I am, etc., L'COXOMT. . August 3, 1912.