LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 57, 10 June 1916, Page 7

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.

STRATFORD'S INTERESTS. INDUSTRIES AND RAILWAYS. “As Far as the town is concerned, ’ remarked Mr \V. P. Kirkwood in the course of his speech at the opening ui the new Municipal Chambers on Thursday evening, “there is no donut that Stratford is the most prosperous town on the coast. ■’ It was in this clu-ei v sentence tha. Mr Kirkwood opened the way to urge the p.-op;e ot the Rorough to lie up and doing in their own interests and those ot toe town and district. He pointed otthat the population of Stratford was only a few hundred loss than Haw era, and it was very gratifying to know that we were approaching the latter town’s total. There was the dairy industry only to build up their trade upon, and he drew bis bearers’ attention to the fact that other towns ot similar size to Stratford had other industries in their midst. The value ol the dairy industry to the town would lie recognised when ho mentioned that there were three dairy factories within three miles of Stratford, paying out altogether £30,000 per month. Thus would they realise the prosperity of the place. Also, they did not all realise the value of the business that went through Stratford, and as time went on they could look forward to further prosperity if they kept up the land, and settled it in smaller sections for dairying purposes. One thing that was wanted badly was local industry. They had no local industries worth talking about, but uo doubt when some were established, the town would go ahead very fast indeed. STRATFOR D-OK A HR KURA RAILWAY.

“Some of the main pi:mens,” Mr Kirkwood continued, “do not agree with me in bringing the matter ol the railway forward in time of war, hns my contention is that if we allow the Government to continue in their policy of not replacing the men who leave work on the line, then you will find that nothing will he done. Every man who goes off, for any reason whatever, is not replaced. We know that the demands of the war are such that eligible men should not he kept on the railway, but we could demand that so long as they keep any men on, the linot is of so much importance that work on the western end of the railway' should not be stopped. The Government are keeping going lines of little importance, but politicians and statesmen recognise that the Strat-foid-Okahukura ‘railway is of national importance and not local. This is a matter in which local bodies have a duty to perform. 1 do not mean that the‘.statements 1 have made should be taken in a parochial spirit. I don’t object to work on any important lines or work going on at the other end of this line, if you like, but what I say is that we must have men on at this end. And notwithstanding the war, T say it can he done. Men are looking for work, and, besides, when the line is. completed, it is not only going to help our district, but the Dominion as a whole. It is the only link on the western side with the Main Trunk line, and it is of national imponance that it should he done. Yon must remember that within twelve months the Motufoa port will be opened for ocean-going steamers and there, will lie a deep-sea port at”out doors. The line only goes into the fringe of the China country, and we know that we get some of the trade ac this end, but until it is connected up the line is not going to pay the Government as it should do.”

iA speaker who did not agree with Mr Kirkwood on the question of the railway was Mr George Sangster. Ho said the railways could he left to take care of themselves at the present, time. He did not think the Government should lie embarrassed at this time of war. Instead of worrying the Government, they should leave the matter alone. The completion oi the line would not grow another pound ot wool.— (“Oh!”) and as far as Stratford was concerned it would not further benefit the town. dhe surplus labor could he utilised on the farm, doing more for the country by the increased milk production and butter and cheese for the people of the Homeland.