S.I. MAIN TRUNK LINE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1925, Page 4

S.I. MAIN TRUNK LINE

EAST COAST ROUTE ADVOCATED CHRISTCTIUIUI. .May (J. The report of a special committee set lip by Canterbury Progress League to report on the comparative suitability of 1 la; East Coast (Wharautii-Knikoura-i’arnassus) and the West Coast (Glenhope-Inangahua) sections of uncompleted railway, to serve as links in the Dominion’s main trunk line; and on the commercial developmental possibilities immediate and prospective. of the more suitable route, was suhmiitcd at to-night's meeting of the Executive of the Longue. The committee's recommendations are fl)—That, considered as part ol a main trunk, connecting the extreme North with the extreme South of New Zealand, the East Coast route is the most suitable for the following reasons : fa) Recall sc it is LI- miles shorter than the West Coast route. Oil Reran so is open; up country whose productivity can he appreciably improved by railway connection. (c) I’ecause the volume of traffic already passing over the route is considerable enough to give piomise ol payable dimensions v.ben a line actually is constructed. (e) Recuiiso the volume of traffic already pas-ing over the route is considerable enough to give promise of payable dimensions when a line actually i; constructed. (d) Recause the line appears destined to carry all the passenger (radio between the North and South Islands, in conjunction with a train ferry service, this feature alone liidieai iiig a g on'.]

revenue-earning prospect, aval one tliiil" must improve with every increase in the population of the Dominion. (2) The committee strongly recommends that the Government !•:• urged

In carry our complete surveys ol the Fast Coast route between the rail heads, as an essentia! preliminary to the early construction ol the line. (3) That the committee is ol opinion that the decision of the Government to push on with the line I rum Gleiihope as far sou'll as Murchison is warranted by the general conditions and situalioi) of the Murchison district. and is rendered necessary by the fuci Ihnt a considerable expenditure has already been incurred in exceeding the line southward from Gl mllopo. (.|) Thai the committee is lad e :n----viucod thai the early eoniplet ion ol Ibe line between Murehi-on ami in.angaIma. .) unci ion is of pressing imp- "i'tanef. The line should he built. The report mentions Iha l it does not retptire a very large stieif.i ol imagina.l ion sec in the Liture a last expiv . s q-vie'e fi'i.-m end -to end <>l , Domicioo. ci-ossin;; t'ook St rail by railway ferry steamers, anil > ntir. ly eliminating the ii.as--en.ger ti'aflic boteen Lyt l -lii.'i and Welling! an by Thai would h,. the logical re-uli to follow tin* eoniplet inn oi lira Main Trunk line, as the rocenl lk'.'.m I om-lui-sion has point ed out in its report. The League deferred dis.-ils-ion of tile report til! a later date.