NO RAIL LINK TO TAUPO

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 618, 21 March 1929, Page 12

NO RAIL LINK TO TAUPO

GOVERNMENT’S DECISION IS FINAL

R0 T ORUA PERTURBED (Special to THE Si SJ ROTORUA, Wednesday. “The building of the railway would not be justified on the giouuds that it would give cheaper manure freights to Reporoa settlers," said the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, this evening in reply to a deputation which urged the reversal of the Government’s decision regarding

the Rotorua-Taupo railway. “It would be better for the Government to cart manures to Reporoa, give them to the settlers free, and pay them a bonus," he said. “The decision of the Government is quite final. ’ Declaring that the news had come as a bombshell, Mr. J. N. McLean, Mayor of Rotorua, spoke for the deputation which represented the Borough Council, the County' Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Railway League. The Prime Minister had advised on February IS that Ministers would visit the district and that their reports would be considered by Cabinet before a policy decision was made. “In our opinion the question is serious,” he said. “From £50,000 to £IOO.OOO has already been spent, and we ask if it is possible to continue the line at least as far as Reporoa so as to get some return for the money. \V e looked to this line to be the beginning of a line to go through the North Island. It has been said the railway would not pay, but a line cannot be condemned because of that, for I believe nearly £SOO.OOO was lost on the New Zealand Railways last year. ELECTION POLICY Mr. G. French (Rotorua Chamber of Commerce) supported Mr. McLean. In replying the . Minister reminded the deputation that in his election speeches Sir Joseph Ward said he would discontinue work on branch lines and push through the main lines. The decision regarding the RotoruaTaupo line should not come as a surprise. “I am of opinion that, the line was premature and I am quite satisfied of that after seeing the district,” he continued. “If it were a surprise to you to see the line stopped it was a surprise to me to see it started. There is certainly a great tract of land to develop, but that development will be fairly slow.” TRANSFER OF MEN Preparations are now being made for the transfer of the Public Works men and their huts to the Gisborne-Wairoa line works. The settlement comprises 200 double and 300 single huts and the shift will take some time. About ISO men were employed on the Rotorua-Taupo line and some will not be re-engaged. Over 150 Maori workers have re-

| reived advice tiiat they will , off in a day or two. according to deputation representing the Araw Trust Board which approached th. Minister this evening. The lead,- , Mr. H. Tai Mitchell, said that probah j about 300 Maoris would be involved Mr. Forbes promised to place th. position before the Minister of Publi Works.