PAEROA-POKENO LINE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5294, 2 July 1928, Page 2

PAEROA-POKENO LINE.

DATE OF AUTHORISATION. MOST J USTIFIABLE LINE. For years past the-agitation to obtain recognition of the Pokeno-Baieroa section of the East Coast main trunk line *has been taking place, and in view of the proposed, construction, of the line from Rotorua to Taupo, Mr P. E. Cheal, chairman, of tlife Auckland Railways League, has drawn attention to the fact that the decision to make the latter line was as unjustifiable as a payable proposition as the .Waikakapu line.

In discussing the relative importance of the Paeroa-Pokepo and the Taupo.Rotorua lines, Mr Cheal claimed that the former was the most important part of New Zealand’s railway construction programme, and went even further to say that it was more important, than any other on the East Coast at the present time. “ I am in thorough agreement with the proposition that future railway construction must be based on the total amount of assured goods and passenger traffic, and in that connection I think it would be a fair thing to get the settlers along the proposed Paero.a.Pokeno line to state what amount they would approximately pay per annum. This would be a legitimate way to secure customers and would save operating the railway at a, loss, subsequent to its construction.” In 1916, said Mr Cheal, the Minister of Public Works promised to put the Pokeno-Paeroa Authorisation Act through. It was not done. The Auckland Railway League asked the reason why, a ; iid the reply was that as the -war w.as, likely to last for some time there would be plenty of time for. this bill. Next session came, and the following sessions—no Authorising Rill, After'considerable trouble, caused by the section not being on the lines to be authorised, the Auckland Railway League was suddenly informed that it had been authorised ip a “Washing-up” finance bill. Mr Cheal said no one connected wth the Press or members of Parliament were interested', nor was the Minister of Public Works, who must have seen and read this “Washing-up" bill, remembered anything about it a month or. two after it became law. The paragraph in that bill referring, to the construction of the Paeroa-Pokeno Railway reads, as follows — 1. The Governor.GeneraJ may from time to time, in the name, and on behalf of His Majesty, undertake to enter into contracts for the construction of an extension of the PokenoPaeroa railway from the end of the line in block 11, Waihou Survey District, the length of such extension being thirty-five miles, more or less.