The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1914. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY MUDDLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 84, 30 March 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1914. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY MUDDLE.

When the long-deferred decision regarding the Opunake railway route was made known officially a day or so ago, Taranaki from end to end was simply amazed. So far as the Stratford and Kaponga districts are concerned it is recognised that a grave mistake has been made, but also uiat it is now futile to make further protest, the Government having announced its decision. It will be interesting at least to be supplied with the full reasons of the Government for having chosen a route which was in nobody's mind, and apparently has not given satisfaction to any locality, and at once utterly ignores the recommendations of the Railway Commission which, at considerable expense, was set up to carefully go into the route

question. If, however, anybody gains an advantage by a political pull in this muddle, it is the southern end of the district, and it certainly has a humorous aspect to find that the loudest howl in the chorus of dissatisjfaction which has arisen from all parts of Taranaki should come from Mr G. V. Pearce, M.P. At a meeting of | the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, at the end of last week, Mr Pearce! had a good deal to say, and among-ih other things that ''the Governmenti had made a very weak decision which would satisfy no one." Northern Taranaki will certainly smile on learning that Mr Pearce also told the Chamber that while "there had been a good deal of pulling to get the railway near to New Plymouth," yet the route chosen would not Suit the people north or south! There is undoubtedly much truth in what. Mr Pearce remarks, and we think it is incomprehensible that the Government should have done anything but adhere to the original reserve route or make a junction at Stratford where a junction' already exists. We have ret to dis-

cover that there is any reasonable excuse for taking any other course of action. "We have no doubt there will be some uneasiness in Wellington when it becomes further known that Mr Pearee had publicly stated that he is "not pleased with the Government" for having departed from the route advised by its responsible offic-; ei-s, and which (in Bis opinion) was undoubtedly the best route for the district. 'Mr Pearee was perfectly right in much that he said, and itj does certainly appear to be a most extraordinary action to merely cle-j part a mile or so from the route de-; cided upnu'by the Commission with-] out making any explanation, while at the same time such a deviation is sufficient to compel much of the pro-J duce which already has to be cartedi to be still carted., and further, when the route chosen gives no compensat-. ing benefit to any part of the local-, ity. We do not very well see how anything can be done in the matter now,' but the Hawera Chamber of Commerce has, at any rate, passed a resolution affirming that the route decided upon by the Government for the Opunake railway will deprive the Government of a very considerable portion of the revenue to Be derived from freights, and that therefore the Cham-; her strongly protests against its ac- 1 tion in departing from the route defined and unanimously Yeeommended by the Special Commission, and respectfully asks the Cabinet to inform the Chamber of the reason for such alteration. The reasonable request contained in the latter part of that resolution is certainly one which should be complied with.