WAIROA DISTRICT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10288, 24 May 1919, Page 8

WAIROA DISTRICT

URGENT NEED FOR RAILWAY. A large anil representative deputation from the Wairoa district waited upon Ministers of the Orown yesterday to urge tiio imperative necessity tor Mie provision of railway communication between Wairoa. and Waikokopu, thirtythreo miles distant, the district being unanimous in its decision to spend no further money on Wairoa harbour, but to make a new harbour at Waikokopu,< as advised by the Marine Department*. The lino, it was stated, would be an easy one to construct, and Natives and other owners of land along the route had promised to giro the land required free of charge. The district required only communication to be capable of immense development. The deputation mei with a sympathetic reception. .. Sir William l<Vaser (Minister for Public Works) said he had already instructed the Public Works engineer to make a detailed survey at the proposed line, instead a flying survey, so that if Parliament passed an Authorisation Bill they would bo ready to proceed with the construction of the line. The Hon. T. M. Wilford (Minister for Marine) said ihe oninion of all the experts was that was the proper harbour for tl'ie. coast, and ho advised the district to proceed with the preparation of plans for harbour works in order that they might have the harbour in readiness when tlio railway communication was provided. The Hon. Arthur Myers (Acting-Finance Minister) said ho realisrd that this was a matter of national importance, and whoever might be Minister for Finance it would be his duty to give the request very serious consideration. The Hon W. D. S. MacDonald (Minister for Agricul'iiure) said ho understood the position in the district, and his sympathies were entirely with the deputation; and the Hon. J). H. Guthrie (Minister for Lands and Minister in charge of Imperial Supplies) also assured the deputation of his sympathy with them.