Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1925, Page 2

At the Progress League, meeting this week, whil© agreement was expressed with the recommendation of the parent I-engiie in regard to the completion of the main trunk line oil the East Coast, sympathy was expressed with the Nelson people that the NelsonWest Coast line was not taking preeedenie. In the earliest times of the agitation for the East and West Coast railway the Nelson people were the principal workers, their desire being to link up Nelson with that system, and legislation to that effect was put through. The delegation which went Home to secure capital to undertake the line included Nelson representatives. and generally from that quarter a special effort was made, an effort which had no small effect on the final linking of the two Coasts. Fate has been unkind to lent e Nelson out of the gootl things at this stage, hut it is worth noting that the railway line is coming south from Glonhopc to .Murchison, hut it must Ik? many a day before it reaches further south. Every assistance should he given out of gratitude, towards the extension ol ihe Nelson railway south, for Nelson people were such enthusiastic worker* for pushing through the line which now links cast and west, and which was intended primarily to stretch north to Nelson.

Wini.e the League meeting on Atom day night favored the pushing on of the East Coast main trunk line a.s a national work, mention was made also of t-lie Holler (Jorge line, which some little time ago the parent League was ready to back up. The linking up of West-port with the Coast railway will he an all round advantage. It is part and parcel of the original scheme goveniing the South Island railway system, and it will create a closer community of interest among the AYe.st Coast towns than they enjoy at present. Westport is very distant from Hokitika, and vice versa, hut linked by the railway a new interest would be created. The line would he of service to the tunnel traffic for which Westport is a natural feeder. The convenient connection of the railway would be helpful to the back country and be of advantage to Reefton which besides the tunnel outlet, would have two seaports available also for tradlg. The completion of the line has I

been long promised, and it is due to the Const to see the work poshed on. It is the only railway work on tho Coast and at present there is a largo sum of money put into already constructed work and lying idle, because the line is unfinished. It is one of the lines of the Dominion which should he hurried to completion.