TAUPO-ROTORUA LINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 24 July 1929, Page 9

TAUPO-ROTORUA LINE

LETTER TO FORMER PRIME MUSTEK READ BY SIR JOSEPH WARD SENSATION IX TDK HOUSE (By Telegraph) (From "The "Mail's" Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, 23rd duly. Reciting the reasons why the Gc/c----eminent decided lo discontinue work cai the Taupn Ruforua railway the L'ritne Minister created a sensation ill the House of Represenlalives tonight by quoting a letter addressed to the lute Prime Minister in 1927 criticising the taller for noi fulfilling his promise and for not providing f(/r the wonk on the Kstimates, Sir Joseph said the decision had been inadi! dispassionately but he read I lie letter in proof of his contention I hat the line was a political railway. The letter is as follows: ' •Broadlands," Wniolapu. Auckland, N.Z. 25th October, 1927. The Hon). .1. 0. Coales, Wellington. Dear Sir. —Again there is nothing on the Estimates lor our railway. What becomes of your promise made lo our deputation at- Taupo? Can one place no dependence on the promise of a Prime Minister? I may tell you that relying on your word I entered on a new scheme of improvements upon which I have expended an additional £3OOO. All this will have to be abandoned, for it is impossible, to carry on without means of access. I 'am filled with regret, that 1 did such an enormous amount of work in launching the Reform Party. From its inception until my leaving Auckland to come here' in 1908 every meeting of the executive and general committees was held in my office and t can truly say that had it not been for the tremendous amount of work. done and enthusiasm put in by myself and about two others there- could be no Reform Party to-day. No Government could have done less for this area. However, you have achieved one thing. You have got rid of me and my persistence. 1 am done. It is the end of a great enthusiasm, but it is not really in the interest of the country that* enthusiasm should be crushed. Yours faithfully, E. E: Vaile.