GREAT POSSIBILITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1929, Page 3

GREAT POSSIBILITIES

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE, CHRISTCIJU'JIOH, Nov. 11. Mr P. Keegan, United Party organiser for Canterbury and Marlborough, has just returned from a three-weeks' tour of the Marlborough province, wnere lie lias been organising intensively on lines already adopted in Canterbury. This is the first time the party has undertaken systematic organisation there. Mr Keegan stated that he had found the province very strong for the United Party. Good representative meetings had been held in all centres, and one notable feature of the tour Mas the large attendance o; ladies at all the meetings. Strong committees were set up in each centre to further the movement and to collect funds. ‘‘All shades of party opinion,” he said, “were represented at the meetings we held, and it was made very evident that the electors ct Marlborough at any rate recognised the wisdom <ef uniting the good planks in all' platforms and eliminating everything that is not in the best interests of the people.”

THE RAILWAY. Asked concerning the (South Island main trunk railway; Mr Keegan, who is a practical man, and who was, tor many years president of tile Taneatmi, Railway 'League,' which- was mainly instrumental in getting the North Island east coast main trunk lino authorised, said that, after viewing the country through which the railway would pass, and after a thorough tour of both Canterbury and Marlborough, he thought the line was fully warranted, liking up as it did, two rich and important provinces. “It is bound to be a success,” he said “as a national' undertaking. Marlborough from the agriculturists’ and pastoralists’ point of view has wonderful possibilities—more than most New Zealanders realise. The flat country in most parts is wonderfully rich.” “Lucerne is well established,” continued Mr Keegan, “and is more than doubling the carrying capacity of the land. Dairying is only in its infancy, and is capable of enormous develonment, which the completion of the railway will accelerate. The hilly country is very suitable for sheep and lambs—equal to anything that Canterbury can produce. The most serious drawback to Marlborough at the present time is the wastage and expense in marketing the produce. . “The completion of the railway would put the Marlborough farmers in direct contact with the Addington market, which is recognised as the best market in New Zealand. This would add at least 5s .per head v to sheep and lambs in the province. It would also add enormously to the value of the fat cattle. COUNTRY . NOT DIFFICULT. • \ . '• '' ' ‘ . . “The country through which the line will be put is not so difficult as people have been led to think. Some fairly costly railway bridges will be needed and one fairly long tunnel. Up-to-date plant however, and the adoption of a rigid economic policy will see this railway, completed at a cost that will be quite /within reason, file railway will serve every small centre, along the line and each of these centrejs will add considerably to the volume of traffic. “Kaikoura has a very large area of flat lend, most of which is equal to anything in the Dominion, and from this area there will come a great amount of traffic. “The scenery along' this route i" many places is equal to anything in New Zealand and there are many very fine camping places that will be sure to attract hundreds of healthseekers and tourists. “ 1 Itogether the scheme is quite worth while and flic expense incurred is more than justified.’’