THE STRATFORD RAILWAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 142, 11 March 1920, Page 4

THE STRATFORD RAILWAY

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS.

A deputation representing the commercial and dairying interests of Taranaki interviewed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works yesterday in order to press for the early completion of the Stratford-Okahukura railway. The delegates emphasised the importance of securing railway communication through to the timber and coal measures of the Ohura country. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson introduced the deputation. He said that the railway was a trunk line, and its eariv completion was of national as well as provincial importance. Mr. J. Ouin and Mr. Newton King spoke regarding the railway, and other matters. Mr. A. Morton urged the importance of securing a supply of coal for the dairv factories. There was an immense coalfield in the Ohnrii country, whence some of the settlors were already drawing supplies of fuel. Coal could be got seven or eight miles beyond the present Public Works terminus at Tahora. but some forty-seven miles of lino were renuired to open the main field.

Sir William Eraser denied that the Stratford-Main Trunk railway had been neriected. The position was that by the end of March every shilling of the vo'te for tho southern end would have been SDent. and a very large part of tho vote for the northern end. The shortage of labour was a serious matter for public works. Some people said that if he offered the money he would get the men, but if he had paid the wages required to attract all the labour he needed, the ordinary wage payable by private employers would have been sent up to £1 a da v.

The. Prime Minister said that lie could endorse what Sir William Fraser had enid. Ho knew that the arguments advanced bv the deputation for the speedy completion of the Stratford-Main Trunk railway were sound. The country to be served ~as worthy of a railway, and the line was really a trunk line. The Main Trunk line, as a matter of fact, was workinsr almost up to its full capacity already, and the increase in the traffc was continuing. The Stratford line would relibve the Main Trunk line to some extent. He felt that sufficient provision would have to be made during the next session. of Parliament. The sreat difficulty was the shortage of labour. It, would be better perhaps if the Government could concentrate labour on one line and finish it rather than carry on several works at a slow pace, but the members of the deputation were aware oj the difficulties in the way of such an arrangement. No district was prepared to abandon its claim _to _ consideration in favour of another district.