TRAMWAY TO MOTU.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 950, 24 July 1903, Page 2

TRAMWAY TO MOTU.

(To the Editor of the Times.) Sir,—l was somewhat surprised to read the discussion on the above subject that took place at the meeting of the Railway League. Surely the members who advocated the County Council undertaking such a proposal are not sincere in their recommendations. The County Council at present have an overdraft of nearly ten, thousand pounds, and are they likely to undertake the construction of a tramway line costing £50,000 ? The Government are pledged to the continuance of the line to the Motu, and if this tramline is constructed the result will be that at the end •, of three or four years tbe Council will find themselves the possessors of i£50,000 worth of old iron and sleepers, and nothing to show for it. What the Railway League should do is to join hands with the Bay of Plenty and Auckland Leagues, and urge upon the Government the necessity of at once carrying the line to the Motu. Mr P. Harris’s suggestion was the more sensible one, and that was that the district should guarantee the Government the interest on the cost of the line. This would show the Government that the district had confidence in the undertaking, and convince them that the line would pay its way.—l am, &c., CoutiXT Ratepayer,