BULLER COUNCIL RESOURCES.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1919, Page 3

BULLER COUNCIL RESOURCES.

RAILWAY EXTENSION URGED

WESTPORT, June 12. A conference of the Buller and Reef-

ton Railway League was held in Westport to-day when strong exception was taken to the delay in the completion of the construction of the Bullei Gorge railway. The Reefton members pointed out that timber and coal wore being taken out of the Inangahua and Buller Valleys and dragged up over the saddle to Reefton, and thence to Greymouth, whereas if the railway were completed they could be much, more easily and cheaply brought to Westport, the natural outlet, as there is a gradual downgrade to this port. It was also pointed oiit that a railway would enable freezing works to be established at Westport to handle the surplus stock, which at present has to be taken to Christchurch. Members of the league blamed the Government for Hie present shortage of coal, due in a largo measure to the failure to complete Hie Buller Gorge line, and enable its

i immense coal field there to be developed. It was suggested by a member of the league that if the Government, instead of paying large sums of money in , importing coal, were to provide free j passages for 1000 married miners and ! their families from the .Old Country, 1 and see that proper housing conditions were provided, there would be no coal shortage in New Zealand. The combined leagues resolved to send a circular letter to all members of Parliament, also to send a deputation comprising members of the leagues and local bodies to. Wellington to place, the facts concerning the Buller railway and coalfields before Parliament, and j to ask the Government to arrange for a week-end parliamentary trip to this district, so that members may have first-hand information in regard to the need for the immediate, construction of the railway, so ns to provide cheap coai for the people of Now Zealand.