PAEROA-POKENO LINE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5108, 30 March 1927, Page 3

PAEROA-POKENO LINE.

DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE’S VIEWS. At the annual meeting of the Bay of Plenty Development League, held at Uaneatua on the 22nd inst., a communication was read from the Railway Department regarding the Pae-roa-Pokeno connection. Mr Peebles moved that the department be again approached to construct the Paeroa-Pokeno railway line. This line would relieve the' great congestion on the line to Franktbn. Mr J. H. Reid seconded. Mr C. H. Clinkard said the Pokeno line was going to be an absolute sink 'Tor money. The league should concentrate all its efforts on getting the line to Gisborne. Auckland city should be left to worry about the PaeroaPckeno connection. Mr C. T. Clinkard said the PaeroaPokeno section was assured. The influence in Auckland City was quite strong enough to push it through. The league should concentrate on one or two things that vitally interested the Bay. For these good arguments could be put up. Mr Grant agreed that the PaeroaPokeno connection should be left to Auckland, leaving the leagues to .concentrate on the railway at that end. ■Mr Christian agreed with the three previous speakers. Whatever the league did the Paeroa-Pokeno connection would not come any earlier. The should only ask for a few impStant things wanted in the district. He moved as an amendment that the letter be received. Mr McLean seconded the amendment Mr Peebles said he was surprised at the remarks of the various speakers on the. Paeroa-Pokeno connection, which had been advocated by the league for a number of years. It was admitted that the section was going to be an important addition to the, East Coast railway,, as it would cut off 40 or 50 miles in the route. There '‘was great congestion on the line between Hamilton and Frankton which would be done away with by the proposed line. The motion only asked the department to carry out what "“the league had advocated for years. On being put to bhe vote the amendment was carried by 10 votes to 4, and the motion was lost. —Whakatane Press.