KAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1920, Page 4

KAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

BLENHEIM, March 13

At the outset the circular communication that tho Canterbury Progress League has issued to the local authorities in Marlborough inviting co-opera-tion in tlie agitation for the completion of the East and Most Coast railway, caused some misunderstnding, an impression existing that the reference included the object of linking up Christchurch with Blenheim. This misapprehension, however, was soon cleared up, and the feeling now is one of disappointment that the League’s programme does not take stock of the Last Coast extension. The Blenheim Borough Council merely referred the communication to th Chamber of Commerce for its information. The Mayor remarked that the first consideration so far as Marlborough was concerned, was the completion of the connexion with Christchurch, andl the energies of tho province should be concentrated on that issue. At the meeting of the South Island Main Trunk Railway League to-day, an allusion was made to the Canterbury appeal to the local bodies of Marlborough and a liopo was expressed that they would insist on priority, or at least equal treatment, for this. League’s cause. The president (Mr R. F. Goulter) said that this principle being conceded, tlio demand for the speedy completion of the lino between Christchurch and the West Coast was certainly worthy of all possible support. A lot* of money had been sunk in the work, and it would be good business for the Dominion to make this expenditure an earning investment by finishing the line. That was the feeling in Marlborough. “It is a great pity,” ho added, “‘that tho Canterbury Progress League does not- includo tlio Picton to Christchurch project in their list of projects.