MIDLAND RAILWAY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1921, Page 1

MIDLAND RAILWAY

(Christchurch ‘'Press.’ ) Canterbury-has waited so long for the railway connexion with Westland, and knows so well that it ought to have been completed at least ten years ago, that it will not relax its pressure upon rite Government to finish the work quickly. There is now good ground for confidence that within two, or at most, three years, the trains will he running through. The Government is in earnest in its desire to finish the work, and Mr Massey made it plain in his speech at Hokitika on Wednesday night, that he himself is keen on the completion of the job. He told his Hokitika audience that the concern will Ik> a splendid tiling for. Westland, and will restore that halfisolated province to more than its old prosperity. This is not the view held n Auckland, where opinions on tins subject are formed in a state of freedom from the distracting influence of knowledge of the actual conditions of Westland and Canterbury. Mr Massey, however, has seen the position for himself and Canterbury and Westland will welcome the quite emphatic language in which he has declared himself a friend of the Midland line. We mav take his words to mean that the work ranks first on the Government’s list in point of urgency.