THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1907. OHURA RAILWAY—A SUGGESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 43, 16 August 1907, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1907. OHURA RAILWAY—A SUGGESTION.

The agitation in favou-r of the deviation of the Ohuva railway through the Whitewhenua Valley is still being pursued bj- a section of the settlers in that district, and it is a matter for regret that the energy shown by them should not be directed towards supplementing the petitions of the Ohura people for the speedy commencement of the line from the Ongaruc end. There is no doubt that the settlers rcsponsibleforthc agitation are actuated by the highest motives, and consider the route proposed by them to be the best, and the one which would make for the benefit of the greatest number in the end. Unfortunately the point is a highly debatable one, and the end is so very remote that by the time the question was settled to'the general satisfaction, those who are now fostering the agitation would be under the sod, and the debate would be left to their heirs to settle. The position is, briefly, that the line to Ongarue is justified, and has been agitated for consistently, for several years past. So urgent were the claims for the line that a promise was obtained from the Minister for Public Works to the effect that the work from- Ongarue would be started as soon as the Main Trunk railway was completed. The main line will be finished in about twelve or eighteen months, therefore, it may be said, the starting of the Ohura line from Ongarue ■ is within measurable distance. It must also be remembered that this line will give by far the quickest access to the whole of the Ohura, which is now peopled by, approximately, a thousand settlers. By the time the railway would be far enough to benefit them the population would be doubled or trebled. Admitting, for the sake of argument, that the proposed deviation is as good a route as the other, what chance is there of the Government being prevailed upon to adopt the proposal without the strongest urging by the whole of the districts interested ? Even with unanimity, judging by the time it has taken to get a bare promise with regard to the Ongarue line, it would be ten years before anything would be attempted. In any case unanimity could not be looked for, and the authorities would certainly adopt the attitude of waiting until the dispute was settled. Moreover the}'' would be quite safe in promising to start the work directly the settlers agreed upon the deviation, for that agreement would never be brought about. It should also be remembered that Mr Jennings has worked hard for the purpose of having the Ongarue line started, and to request him to present a petition in favour of a deviation from that route, would be placing him in a very unenviable position. In order to ensure success in political matters it is well recognised that cooperation, on the part of those interested is esscniial. In addition, compromises arc often expedient, and methods must be pursued which tend to focus the strongest pressure in the direction most likely to bring substan-

tial result. A feature of the case which may have been overlooked by those responsible for the movement, is that Mr Jennings, as member for the district, is worth considering in the matter. As an old politician ; as the member who has been working hard for the district in every way, and as one whose interests extend throughout the whole of the electorate, he should be in a position to give the soundest, and most practical advice in any public matter affecting a large area. We would suggest that before proceeding further, Mr Jennings should be written to, and his opinion asked as to the practical aspect of the new proposal. Whether the said opinion was favourable or otherwise, it should be worth getting, and, wc venture to think, should be worth adopting. -- -*- -- It is a well-established fact that when people in a body really want a thing they will get it despite all obstacles, and in the recent agitation for the obtaining of a medical man for Te Kuiti district, the necessity of the case was apparently not sufficiently pressing for the movement to be pushed to a successful icsuc. However, the absolute necessity for further action, and the obtaining of a reliable medical man for the district at all cost has been forcibly demonstrated of late, and if the interest evinced in the public meeting on Monday evening may be taken as an indication, the movement will not be allowed to lag as it has done during the past few months. There has been a lamentable lack of interest shown in the. matter altogether, and the majority wiio had anything to say only did so'in order to criticise. This is not the spirit which makes for progress. Criticism is only excusable when tlv: critic points a better way, and gives every assistance towards accomplishing the object in view. The easiest thing in the world is to find fault, and there is no virtue in it. The helpful, hopeful man is rarely a critic, and when he is we do not seem to mind, as he only criticises in order to assist. The medical fund movement has taken a new lease of life and with the work undertaken in the proper spirit there is no reason why a workable scheme should not be adopted. The first and main feature to be considered is that of financial supp'rl, and if the people are in earnest they will give what is required in no grudging spirit. When that is accomplished, let them all take a hand in arranging details which will b.: acceptable to all districts interested, as well as to the doctor. The man who wants to know all about the project before he agrees to support it, should remember that he knows just as much as anybody else, and he will, if he is sufficiently interested, have as much to say in what is lobe done with the money, on for the money, as his neighbour. Moreover, he should also remember that it is his duly to help those who are endeavouring to further the project. It is proverbial that those who do the work, get all the hard knocks and none of the ha'-pence. That the majority should have the work done for them, and come in al the finish, and decree how the money is to be spent, seems quite a good proposition for the average contributor, and his thanks arc undoubtedly due to those who take sufficient interest in the matter to work for his benefit. In this, as in other matters for the common good, the main requisite is unanimity. Let all co-ope-rate for the one object in a hearty manner, and very little time will elapse before the object is accomplished.