PARLIAMENT

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 76, 29 August 1938, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

MR HULTQUIST’S SPEECH A DDR ESS-IN-REPL Y DEBATE During his recent speech in the Acl-dress-in-Reply -debate in the .. House of Representatives, the member tor the Bay or Plenty, Mr A. G. Hultquist made reference to the extension of the railway line to Opotiki. Mr Huitquist said: “firstly, I wish to thank trie Prime Minister for having kept his promise in regard to completing the. Tanoatua-Opotiiri railway. It was unfortunate that, when the Prime Minister announced that the railway would be completed, the first sod could not be turned shortly afterwards, but the fact of the matter V was that the previous surveys were so out of date that it was inevitable that new surveys had to he authoris- „ eel. Faster traffic must be provided.* for on the railway-lines of the future. The previous surveys provided only for ij chain and 6 chain curves, whereas, with the advent of rail cars, 15 chain and 16 chain curves are called for. Therefore, in order that fast modern rail cars could he taken as far as Opotiki it was necessary that the route should he resurveyed. A suspicion exists in Opotiki—and I want the Prime Minister to take particular note of what I am saying—that the resurvev that is being carried out is for the purpose of finding out whether it is possible to take the line along a new coastal route to Opotiki. Recently the Minister of Public Woi-ks authorised the survey of a liew coastal road. The present route from Wiiakutane to Opotiki is inland' through Tnneatun, the distance being thirty-seven miles. One lias to go seven miles into Taneatua, through the Waimana Gorge, and wander out to the coast again at. a point near Waiotahi. The Minister of Public Works was so impressed last year with the possibility of taking the road along the coast, • that lie authorised a survey. The proposed route would reduce the distance from thirty-seven miles to about twen-ty-one miles. I am of opinion that i the coastal road should be proceeded with as soon as possible, if for no dither reason than as part of a .national scheme of defence. I am convinced i that the time .might arrive when a straight, wide road from Whakatano to Opotiki will he needed for that purpose. There is an aerodrome in Opotiki at present, and Whakatano is negotiating for a site for one. In the event of a sporadic raid and the need arising for the people of Opotiki and Whalcatane to he evacuated quickly, it would lie necessary to have a better road than the present one. But I think it would he unwise to take the railway alongside the new coastal road. Part of;the argument in favour of the railway has been that it would go inland and open up a good deal of the country. Of course, Whnkatane expects to he provided with rail connection.’ and the''people, believe that if the railway is taken through the hill o rifl along the Oliope beach route then thev might have better fail facilities than-exist at present. However, my- opinion is that the railway to the pap-er-mills at Whakatane could he utilisised to give the people of Whakatane better access to the present main .lines -k'Would ask that the proposal, he considered anyway. Every argument for taking the railway inland from Taneatua to Opotiki should ho taken note of. especially as it- will op- s on up so much hack' country.