ESSENTIAL RAILWAYS.

Southland Times, Issue 18837, 2 June 1920, Page 2

ESSENTIAL RAILWAYS.

To the Editor. Sir,—Sir Robert Stout gave a lecture in Invercargill some’time ago on Patriotism. He stated that Patriotism consisted of many qualities, not merely of fighting for one’s country, but also good citizenship, honorable dealing and doing the best for one’s country among one another. I think the construction of our railways comes under one or other of Sir Robert Stout’s definitions. There have befen meetings held by some, if not all, of Southland’s representatives in Parliament for united action to foster the railways in local districts. Nothing has been mentioned at those meetings as far as I can read, of the main South Island trunk line to D'enheim and Picto*. This is the most essential railway line needed in ‘jfi South Island at the present time. The relationship of the peoples of the two islands was and is becoming very’ extensive, as are also the business and trading connections of the North and South Islands. It is hot much to the credit of the people of both islands, especially to the people of the south, to think that one has to spend a whole long night at sea to get from one to the other island and yet they are only a few miles apart. I know it deters very many people from visiting one another, especially women and children, when they know beforehand that they have to spend a long miserable night at sea to get to the other island where their relatives are. This also applies to a number of old people who would gladly spend a week or two at the North Island at this time of the year, but they cannot afford, some with their infirmities, to be a whole long night at sea. The North Island people, too, would come down in large numbers on all sorts of business and pleasure if they could get ferried over from Wellington to Picton or Blenheim in three or four hours in daylight. The present way of travelling from Lyttelton to Wellington cannot be a pleasure trip even for a man who is a tolerably good sailor. I think it was the late Mr George Laurenson, former member of Parliament for Lyttelton, who stated in the House that the east and west coast railway in the Southland Island was 25 years before its time. He might have stated that the main south line was that period behind time. The trouble is that those members - of Parliament who represent the route of this line never had any influence with any government. Had there been a Seddon, Ward or Massey representing any end of this line it would have been made long ago. I think it should be patent to every Southlander in particular that the main south line is the most important line above all others, local or otherwise, to make Southland easier of access to the people of the north of this province as well as to the people of the North Island. An important railway to Southland, much talked about some years ago but not much spoken of now, is the Gorc-Kclso lino. After it reached Waikaka it evidently stopped. It should, however, be pushed on to tap the Pomahoka Valley. It would always help to make Southland bigger. If people could get on the train at Edievale and stations south of it and come right on to Invercargill, it would be an advantage to all concerned. The line then would be long enough to warrant a train coming right through and the people would not then have to change carriages at Waipahi, which is to many people cumbersome. —I am, etc., N. A. NIEDERER