MORE RIVAL ROUTING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 28 January 1914, Page 3

MORE RIVAL ROUTING.

WHANGAREI'S LINK LINE

NINE MILES WRONG

Poor old, inoffensive Mander, M.P., whenever lye gets on a good wicket something goes wrong with that bale. In his efforts to get the best and shortest route for the North Auckland Main Trunk, he got frustrated. It was not likely he was going on that " -fancy " Commission, when he could see (as anyone else), with half an eye, that it was all cut-and-dried. And now the important route for the link line from Whangarei is being made a fool off. Therefore Mr Frank Mander, M.P., can safely say that what ever the present Government may boast of, he himself, never gets " a fair deal."

The route of the proposed new railway line connecting Whangarei with the North Island Trunk system has been the subject of considerable controversy in the districts likely to be traversed, and although not definitely announced, it was generally understood that the choice would be fixed on what is known as the Waiotira junction, by which the shortest and easiest connection could be made between the Whangarei section and the main line. According, however, to what the Prime Minister stated before his departure for Wellington, the route choson is by way of the Tauraroa Valley, joining the North Auckland Trunk line several miles beyond Waiotira.

Mr F. Mander, M.P. -for the j district has been strongly advocating the Waiotira connection as being the best in the general interest of the travelling public. Discussing the question with a pressman, Mr Mander declared that the Waiotira junction would mean a saving of some several miles of travelling between Whangarei and Auckland, and that if the Tauraroa Valley route is chosen the line will have to j run round two sides of a triangle, j The divergence, he explained, j takes place in the vicinity of Maungakaramea, and in addition to the extra seven miles which passengers from Whangarei and the east coast line would have to travel, the route which the Premier indicates has been chosen will involve an additional construction work of at least two miles, which means an additional expenditure of over £20,000 said Mr Mander. He has accordingly written to the Minister of Public Works to protest against the 4 dropping of the Waiotira connection, and seeking an explanation of the reason.