“ELTHAM'S RIGHTS.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 53, 24 June 1914, Page 5

“ELTHAM'S RIGHTS.”

THE RAILWAY WAIL. *. f . Speaking on the subject of railways at his meeting at Eltham on Monday night, Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. for Egmont, said he would like to refer to the reserved route frorii Eltham to Okahukura, and from there across to the This line had been put through from Stratford** . "Why, he asked, was Eltham thus despoiled of its rights? The Liberal party was responsible. El- ; ‘ tham then returned 'a Liberal member, but he never objected. If that railway had come to Eltham he himself would have built as much as was at present comprised in the whole of the business portion of the town. The Auckland railway- was originally intended to go through Eltham. The mileage was only 483 against the present 426, but this- piece of line was diverted t<s Stratford. The reserve was still there, however, and the country was practically flat, and when the line was put through it would become a main trunk. He hoped when'this came under discussion to throw what little weight he had in it, and he considered that it was quite within the bounds of possibility that they would get it. Eltham was the geographical centre of the province, and when the line came through it should double its popula- % tlon and, importance. At least so Egmont’ 3 wideawake member is reported to have said, but of course, if so, it has to be remembered that Mr Wilkinson was addressing his constitutents—at Eltham—and Mr Wilkinson is a clever man. Some slight distortion of idea and expression, under the circumstances, is easily understandable. The good old “rob-me-of-my-birthright” tale is getting somewhat hoary, but it still evolves a feeble cheer in Eltham. All the same, Stratford sincerely hopes Eltham may , “soon double its population and importance,” and will hasten to offer very hearty congratulations.