THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, Dec. 9, 1915. CRYING PECCAVI!

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 December 1915, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO With which is incorporated "The Kaipara Advertiser & Waitemata Chronicle." Helensville, Thursday, Dec. 9, 1915. CRYING PECCAVI!

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAYS STOPPING PICK-AND-SHOVEL WORK

THE Minister for Public Works has suddenly discovered that owing to war conditions and shortness of cash, he must curtail ithe North Auckland Railway expenditure on the main trunk, and has accordingly dismissed a large number of navvies, about 60, from the Oraana work (Northern Wairoa) and extension of the Kaihu line. This has caused an agitation amongst a few, who are asking the Minister to re-consider his decision. But we think the Hon. Mr Fraser knows his business by this if he didn't know it before. These political sideissues, and including the Whangarei branch off the main trunk, should never have been recog-1 nised until the line' was completed right through to Kaitaia, which could almost have been finished by [this, had it not been for political scheming. The main line should be continued with vigour, and we wouldn't mind a brass farthing if the Whangarei patch was hung up i for a time; in order to carry out the more sensible work with despatch. The Minister, in a statement made to the press at Wellington, says:—" That it was impossible to carry on the whole of the railway construction works, so I decided to concentrate our efforts upon the most important sections especially those where a good deal has been expended upon work which can easily be conr | pleted and commence to earn i interest upon the outlay, and | give service to the settlers. I | have had to stop certain small | sections ail over the Dominion, I north and South. For instance, I there is the Kaihu line, and a short section of the North Auckland trunk line from the River I Wairoa southwards. In regard jto the North Auckland Trunk | line, I am pushing on the work ! in the tunnels near Maungaturoto I because any slackening off there ! would eventually cause delay when we resume the pushing on of the general construction work. I am proceeding with the oon- | necting railway between Wha- | ngarei and the North Auckland i Main Trunk, and intend to have it completed speedily, as it will then give direct communication from the country north of Kaikohe with Auckland. If there are no difficulties over the tunnels, I hope to have this communication completed in about 18 months.