Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 24th, 1920. SOUTH WESTLAND RAILWAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 24th, 1920. SOUTH WESTLAND RAILWAY.

A remarkable opening offers to press on the Government the necessity and value of extending the railway south of Ross. The line is authorised already for some distance, for in 1911 the then Government realised the value of the work. In the Public Works .Statement of that year it was stated, inter alia: “This line will provide an outlet for a very large quantity of milling timber, as well as opening up a considerable area of agricultural land.” After nine years this remains true, and it is emphasised now more than ever by the fact that private enterprise has stepped in and is doing what the Government should have done, as it promised in good faith in 1911 to do. To-day we are privileged to publish a letter from Stuart and Chapman Ltd. to the Minister of Public Works bearing on tlie work. Tin letter sets out the position very plainly and leaves no doubt as to the business side of the proposition. There is a large public estate to be opened up, and in the interests of the people now and hereafter the Government should build the line quickly to the point where lucrative traffic can be picked up. Tt is an opening backed by public opinion as few railway projects in this country are backed, for if the Government will not perform their duty in the matter, private enterprise will. There Is no question looking to the present flourishing condition of South Westland, that the Government railway I should be carried to Inter Wanganui as rapidly as possible. In respect to the first important stage to Waitaha, Stuart and; Chapman speak authoritatively. 'They will provide a large volume of freight for the railway. When we look back and recall what the railway line to Ross has earned and is still earning for an indefinite number of years yet, from timber alone, there is a guide as to the trade to be tapped in the Waitaha region. It will be voluminous. The fact that private enterprice is prepared to construct substantial bridges and build a ’permanent line with material at- its present cost, shows very plainly what trade there is in the proposition. It is not neces sary to stress the obvious in this matter. What is necessary is to awaken public opinion to the golden opportunity which offers to press for the extensiou of the line. It will be a great boon to settlement. The cheaper carriage will lighten the burdens of the backbloek settlers very considerably. The time is

not far distant when a large .amount of stock will cross to the freezers .'n Canterbury. If the fat stock can be picked up at Waitalin, Lake lantlie or further south still, it will save miles of driving and the stock will reach its destination in prime quality. So with the export of products from the (listrict—butter, cheese, wool, flax etc—there will be a great saving in freights. The present seems to be a notable opportunity to push one of the most lucrative projects opening to the future of Wt-itland. Let the public men and public bodies be up and doing. If the letter to the Minister of Public Works is not clear enough the matter is important enough to despatch without delay a deputation to the Government to stress the position further and make it clear that here is an opening which should be taken the fullest advantage of without delay.