Second Edition. MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 75, 19 March 1914, Page 6

Second Edition. MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS.

STRATFORD DEPUTATIONS. The Hon. \V. H. Berries, Minister for .Railways, passed south by this morning’s mail train 1 after visiting the big Maori gathering at Parihaka. During his present trip he has met a great number of deputations and more waited for him at Stratford. TRUCKS FOR METAL. M!h W. Hathaway, chairman of the Stratford Cotuity Council, met the Minister dh the railway station and Wrought under his notice the Council’s pressing need for trucks for road metal; several metalling works being held up for the lack of trucks. The Minister premised that he would do his best to procure the trucks for the Council if it were at all possible. 1 RAILWAY PLATFORM. The president and secretary of the Chamber ofi. Commerce spoke of the need for extending the railway platform and extending the roofing northwards.

The Minister promised that the request would have consideration.

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY

A deputation organised by the Stratford Chamber of Commerce travelled down to Hawera with the Minister, who was accompanied as far as Patea by Mr j. B. Hiue, M.P. for Stratford. This deputation consisted of Mr J. B. Richards (president of the Chamber of Commerce), W. .yi. Hewitt (secretary), the Mayor of Stratford (Mr W. P. • Kirkwood), Cr. E. Anderson (County Council), and Messrs Hollard and Guy (Kaponga). 'The deputation was briefly introduced by ,Mr Hine, the first matter brought up being the Opunake rail* way.

The arguments adduced by the deputation were in the direction of urging that, if the Government was not fully decided on the point of junction for the line, before anything definite was done'a detailed survey of the Stratford route should be made. Mr Richards said the line was of

great moment to the district, and to {a degree to the country as a whole. The Commission set up to deal with the question had recommended a line, from Te Roti to Manaia, with extension later to Kaponga and Stratford, but the Stratford view was that the Commission’s route should be adopted with the exception of the piece from Te Roti to Kapuni. The development of the district depended to a great extent on the port at Moturoa. It was not yet completed, but a definite promise had been made that ocean, liners would soon be able to berth there. The report of the Commission upheld the view of Moturoa being the port of the province. The port would serve the south-western area of r tho province

both as : regards export and imports. As -to the locale of the junction: Tlie Tafanakr line was destmed to form a

through-route to Auckland, and with the junction at Te Roti through passengers to Auckland would have to change three times and there would be two junctions in Taranaki; The Commissioners recommended that the Kaponga-Stratford extension be made when the eastern line was further advanced, but at the time the report was drawn up work had not been started

at the other end. The Commission’s report said that the cost of the line

from Te Roti would be £7OOO per mile, and from Stratford £IO,OOO per mile, but the speaker was sure that the cost of the Te Roti route would be at least twice as much as the sum menteioned. Mr Guy said that unless Kaponga got 'the railway to Stratford there would be a charge on residents for goods for all time.

Mr Kirkwood said a new route for the hailway to Stratford had recently

beerf discovered, which would be much

less costly than the route previously surveyed. In view of the importance of the line, which was going Fdown for all time, he thought the Government should; grant a detail survey of the Stratford route. A matter to be considered was that Stratford was thinking of erecting freezing works. Moturoa would he the port of the province for all time and therefore it was desirable for the ■ western line to striae the main line at the nearest point.

Mr Hollard said that the line from Te Roti would be ixo good for Kaponga town or district, as goods would have to be taken south to fne line and then hauled north to New Plymouth. Mr Newton King had chartered a steamer of 4000 tons to call at New Plymouth, showing that the pprt was capable of taking large steamers. • Mr Herries said the matter of the route was hot in his. department. It was in the hands of the Premier and the Hon. Fraser, hut when it was discussed 1 by Cabinet the deputation’s representations would have consideration. • He had received numerous deputations on the same matter. When the route was settled he could promise that an early start would he made with work on the line.

v IMPORTED TIMBER

Cr. Anderson brought up the question of railway freights on imported timber, making a special point of the freight on Australian hardwoods, in which County Councils were much interested. Mr Herries said that as soon as time was available the freights would be gone through and where possible anomalies would be removed. THE EASTERN LINE. Mr Richards asked that the Railway Department should as early as possible take over the section of the eastern

railway to WhangamomOna. The people had been patient for a long time with an imperfect service.

The Minister said the handing over of the line was a matter for arrangement between the Departments. When the Public Works Department notified that the line was finished it would bp taken over. THE FERRY STEAMERS. In reply to Mr Richards, Mr Herries said the matter of ensuring connection between the Taranaki trains and the ferry steariiers whs one for bringing before the Union.S.S. Co. and not the Railway Department.