THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2261, 5 August 1908, Page 2

THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

THE QUESTION OF BRANCHES. EAST COAST EXTENSION URGED [Special to “Times.”] AUCKLAND, August 4. Over _ the linking of the Main Trunk line Auckland papers wax enthusiastic. The “Herald” says: “The Stratford connection is a case in .point, and this should be energetically attacked from the Main Trunk end as well as from the opposite one. Tlie Auckland-Gisborne connection, commonly known as the East Coast, i 6 another case in point, for this would bring the amount of passenger and goods trade to the Main Trunk system, proportionate to the desirable settlement of tlie country it will develop. It should ho vigorously proceeded with from the Auckland side as well as from the Gisborne side. These two lines are on the schedule of our national railways, and cannot be eutirely excluded from consideration by tlie plea that no new lines are to be commenced until tlio southern lines now in hand are completed. They ought to be started as extensions and branches of the M ain Trunk system, from whatever points the Government intends to start them. The main lino itself has been linked, and there will soon he an effective and experienced working force at tlie disposal of the Public Works Department. It would he utterly had management to allow this fine body of men to be disbanded and their extensive equipment to be broken up while the railway necessities of our northern districts are s 0 great, for it cannot bo .suggested that the pressing railway claims have been exhausted when the Stratford connection and the East Coast extension have been mentioned. Wo press their claims whilo tlio linking of the rail-heads draws attention to tho Main Trunk line, because they should be considered, both as developing good country and as helping to make the great railway scheme of tho North Island highly profitable to tlio Dominion. So much money has been sunk in unprofitable railway schemes that we must do what wo can for sound schemes, if only for the taxpayers’ sake.’.’ The “Star”’ says: “In the meantime we hear from all quarters of strenuous efforts being made from other parts of the Dominion to secure a share in the commercial prospects of the newly-opened country, and exploit some portion of its rich industrial resources. We liavo no doubt that, in this respect, we can safely trust the people of Auckland City and tho district to hold their own against even most enterprising competitors, but whilo we naturally expect that important material advantages will accrue to this part of the Dominion through the completion of the Main Trunk line, wo hope that the people of Auckland will not fall into the error of imagining that all the problems of internal communication in this part of the world have been finally solved. As we have often had occasion to point out, the Auckland district stands to gain far more by the construction of the Northern Peninsula line and the East Coast railway than from tho Main Trunk lino itself, and the meeting of the rail-heads, it is a matter for general congratulation, should certainly not be regarded as marking the close of the" Auckland Railway League's career. Apart from strictly local lines, which have still to he promoted, it is impossible for tho Main Trunk to do tho work for which it was primarily intended until tho rich country through which it passes is effectually opened up by branch lines. It is more especially a matter of interest to Auckland that the Strata ford-Ongaru connection should flow be pushed on speedily, to bring tho riclieStr- pastoral districts in the country into direct communication with their natural northern outlet, and it is equally obvious that the opening ii)i of the Kawhia and Raglan country from Te Kuiti westward is uow only a question of a small branch line running out from the Alain Trunk towards the coast. All these things are in the immediate future, mil we cannot afford to allow our attention to he diverted from them, but, for tlie moment, it is well to real iso that the great work of connectnig us with Wellington and completing the chain of connminicat''on between the ends of the Islands is "°'L C + mplete< li nnd that first great stage in the course of the o uil,i evclopm f' 1 , t ha* «ow been successfully passed,”