The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1911. CROSS COUNTRY TO GREATFORD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 14 February 1911, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1911. CROSS COUNTRY TO GREATFORD.

Recent developments in political finance, and tlin pressing needs of railways in various parte of New Zealand, have caused tlio Levin-Great-I'ord railway extension movement to fall out of the forefront of public endeavour. None the loss, it is de- . sirable that Levin and its nciglibon I'll ing settlements should strive to keep | a lively pulse in this railway exten- ! sion movement; for though it may fhe perfectly true tha/t no public t money is available for prosecution of .this work a t present, there is reason, able likelihood of better prospects being apparent is a. very few years from now. The Manawatu Railway Purchase proposals were scouted for many years as financially impracticable, but in a comparatively little time the great purchase, came about, and the ease with which the money was found, eventually, was one of the most noteworthy aspects of the whole transaction. A similar condition will be reached by some other railroad proposals before any great period of time elapses, and when the time of change arrives the proposals which will bo taken up first assuredly will be those regarding which the most persistent advocacy a.nd agitation has been kept up bv the communities more nearly affected. Tn Levin there has heon next to nothing done in the matter of the Levin-Greatford branch movement since the day—some nine, mbnths ago—on which Sir Joseph "Ward proved himself so calculatingly cool to the deputation of Levin citizens which put the case for extension before him. In neighbouring centres, however, the settlers . are~still agitating, and we notice that an important conference, is convened, for to-day, at Marton, by the Manawatu County Council, to discuss and decide what, further action shall betaken in regard to the proposed extension of the Foxton-Sanson tramway to either Greatford or Marton. Local bodies aro invited to bo present, at the conference from Levin to Ohakune. In a reference to the movement a nci its recent history, tlu I 1 oxton Herald gives the following details:—"The governing bodies, representative of this vast area, have already approved of the extension suggested a.nd last year petitioned the Government to render assistance to this end or empower the local authority to make the extension. The Parliamentary Committee, it

will bo rcmemborod, also recommended tJlio petition from the bodies above referred to to the favourable consideration of Parliament. Owing, however, to the stubborn opposition of the Hon. Mr Millar, Minister for Knilwnys—during which lie uttered the notorious threat to make Foxton 'go bung.' the envious and one-eyed criticism of "Wanganui's member, and the dog-in-the-manger attitude of Mr Poole, the matter was 'talked out.' But- those who have the extension in hand are determined not to be bulldozed :by the threats of the Minister. or the foolish arguments urged in other directions against this important connection, and the conference will discuss details for further action. .1" oxton's representatives need no reminder from >us that the extension of the tramway is of vital importance to the town and port." And, in only a slightly less degree, the same importance attaches to the mater so far as Levin is concerned.