The Guardian And Evening Star, with which in incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1928. SOUTH RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which in incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1928. SOUTH RAILWAY EXTENSION.

During the visit South last week tlie Commissioner of State Forests (Mr Hawken) when interviewed regarding the extension of the railway made the important statement in effect that within five years it was contemplated extending the line South of Ross with a. light railway. The justification for this step is the great store of timber wealth south, the bulk of which is on Crown Lands and therefore a valuable State asset. Westland is the acknowledged store house of native timber for the Dominion, and sooner or later will become the sole source or supply. To tap a great deal of the timber railway lines are pssgnjfjjj

either by extension ol the line south of UosSj of from the points where shipping would lie possible. The gradual extension of the railway is the best solution of the matter for the I Dominion in that already constructed I lines of railway will be used further t, V the export of the timber, and will i have an increased earning power. The -.hipping of timber ex southern ports would detract from the general railway return-. and that, contingency '■ will !,e avoided u> long as possible, lint there is wisdom in pushing the main line further south, with branches or : feeding lines front the valleys. In that way the whole of the timber for export will be carried over longer distances of the national railways and increase their earning power. Hr Haw ken contemplates a light railway. Tut we rather think any material degree of the weakening of the stability i:t regard to the standard of line would he a mistake. The south country is crossed by many rivers, and all bridges would require to be of extra rather than lighter strength to walls'and heavy Hoods. The permanent v.av would have to he in keeping to assure a proper standard tor tin* heavy loading to bo transported. If the authorities do not consider the existing sawmill line which penetrates into the southern country of sufficient strength, then it would ap[ienr any degree of "lightness” should not Ire below the ordinary standard ' railway line. Five years is not a long time in the life of a country, and if the Minister's ideas are to he carried out. the people here will welcome the decision ns one still further assuring the prosperity of Southern Westland. The southern district is on the highway to permanent prosperity already, bat with railway communication it. mast receive a great fillip. The quantity of stock coming out of the south is increasing greatly, and there is no doubt about the quality as was emphasised last neck at Addington. All the surplus stock which means ninety per cent, of the whole, will be sent away by rail to I]ie main market in Canterbury. The Minister need hardly fear any competition with lorries. Tile settlers will therclore use the line very freely, and for produce as well as stock, the railway as it taps the various southern producing centres will secure growing patronage. That irallic with the passenger traffic, and combined with tin’ transport of timber to all parts of the South Island, au<l for export from the main polls to the North Island and overseas. must mean a very considerable degree of traffic and a substantial earning power. The .Minister's promise comes aL a very opportune time, and having been made -.lundd not tic I >-t sight ot. Imb ed 11 should lie lolloWed np. A- a matter ot tact, the lir»t -Inge- ol Die iailway line beyond It'!— are aiilhon-ed already, and if i iiere i- the deal re t , place inieinployi'll icprndiictivc work, the opening is available to siart construction works which will not l»e a waste of money. This course is commended to the local bodies and tin* organisations i f the southern settlers who have kept the main proposal so steadily in mind. Tile Minister has given countenance to liic general scheme, and what has Ijcen promised should he followed up with the desire of seeing the promise I'tiliilled well within scheduled time.