The Massey Government and The Waiuku Railway.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 177, 10 March 1914, Page 2

The Massey Government and The Waiuku Railway.

[TO THEKDITOR., Sir,—Mr R gers' letter in luesdiv's issue of the "Times'" might well pass without comment, were u not that ninny who are unarquaintnl with him might take him seriously. I would suggest that he give his political spectacles an occasional polish, which would hflp him tu see that the present Government differs materially from the sc-callcd Conservative party of twenty-five years ago. A clearer vi- ion would convince him that ths present Government rep.esents true Liberalism in providing equal opportunities to all in cantra-didticction tu the trend of the old Liberal party, who by their inclination tu Socialism encourage the forces that lead to anarchy and disruption.

As an old and consistent supporter of the Waiuku railway 1 regret that Mr Rogers' unselfishness (situated as he is the railway is not likely to be of any direct advantage ti him) causes him to consider that other parts of the country are more entitled to the benefits of railway facilities. Aa his friends all know Mr Kogera la a philosopher, and philorophers are more prolific of ileas than the application of such active and concentrated energy evinced by the residents of the district which the line will servo. This energy applied to some of the most productive land in the Dominion will furnisb both goods and passenger traffi: to make not only the line a payable one, hut lo recoup the losses b?ing made on various other lines constructed by the previous Liberal administration. Philosophical ideas like Mr Rogers' are very good in their way, but it takes a great bulk of thrm to freight n railway train and produce trucks of chaff. whea\ grain, potatoes niul various ether commodities which will bs produced lo supply the inhabitant of our towns; these, und the return londi of manures and other goods will create continuous and incrca-ing revenue for the Waiuku railway to the brnrfit of the inhabitants of tne Dominion as a whole.

That the pcoplo of Aurkhnd aro ulive to these facts is evidenced by the remarks mnie (at the turning of the first sod) by th 3 Mayor of Auckland and other prominent citizens well qualified to judge. The old Liberal administration, if their statements go for anything, ss well as the present Government were quite convinced that the line was a good business proportion and wottld psy from the start; their only trouble being that the southern part of the Dominion required all the available funds fur the Otira tunml and other such commendable works and left nothing for the construction of this umall northern line. Does Mr Rogers oppose his judgment to such authorities as these? As I hive previously remarked in discussing this mutter the Waiuku railway is too small to be of much value as political ammunition in the coming political campaign. —I am, etc., JOSEPH HENKY.