Battle of the Routes.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 73, 17 March 1914, Page 5

Battle of the Routes.

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

DISCUSSION BY HARBOR BOARD.

At a meeting of the New Plymouth Harbor Board yesterday, the question of the Opunake railway and its bearing on Motnroa as a port for dairy produce, was the subject of a short discussion, which, after a resolution by Mr 1). C. Hughes and an amendment by Mr C. A. Wilkinson, was held over until next meeting, owing to the pressure of other important business. Mr Hughes moved, in accordance with his notice of motion at last meeting as follows: —“That the Minister for Public Works be written to pointing out flie necessity for taking into consideration, when determining the route of the Opunake railway, the provision this Board is making for the direct shipping of wool and dairy produce to the world’s markets. The Board also draws attention to Mr Cuddie’s circular commenting on the transhipping and carting of dairy produce as detrimentally affecting its quality. Furthermore, that the Board wishes to point out that a line from Motnroa via Opunake to the main line, according to the Railway Commissioners’ report, will relieve the reading problem, abolish toll gates, cheapen imports and exports and develop a district that has hitherto been practically isolated.” Mr Wilkinson was against the resolution to some extent, because it introduced the battle of routes, which was less desirable than a rapid pushing on of the railway by any route. He pointed out that Mr Hughes’ rout? was in opposition to that already reserved from Opunake to the main line, which had been promised to settlers for 30 years. He also disagreed with that portion of the resolution referring to toll-gates. He moved as an amendment : “That this Board expresses its appreciation of. the action of the Government in placing on the Estimates £90,000 for the TaranakiAuckland Main Trunk line, and the sum of £15,000 for the Opunake line, connecting with the main line; and begs to point out that the vigorous orcsecution of those two lines

fhe utmost importance to the Taranaki provincial district; also that the New Plymouth harbor is now able :o berth steamers drawing 22 feet, and in the near future will be in a position to berth the largest steamers trading to New Zealand; that the extension of the railway system from Moturoa along the coast to Opunake is a matter to which the Government should give its earest attention, especially as the preliminary survey work has just boon completed and the necessary data is now available.”

Mr Marx agreed with the amendment, and Mr Bellringer expressed a desire to see it more definite on certain points. Finally (states the “News”) the further consideration of the matter was deferred till 'the next meeting of the Board.