Minister Inspects Proposed Railway

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 683, 7 June 1929, Page 11

Minister Inspects Proposed Railway

NEED RECOGNISED HAURAKI PLAINS VIEWED (Special to THE SUX) NGATEA, Today. Today the Hon. W. B. Taverner, Minister ot Railways, accompanied by a large party of members of Parliament. and representatives of local bodies in the Hauraki Plains, is inspecting the suggested route of the Pokeno-Paeroa railway. Cars from Auckland took Mr. A. M. Samuels, M.P. for Thames, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, Messrs. G. C. Munns, M.P. for Mount Roskill, H. R. Jenkins, M.P. for Parnell, A. W. Hall, M.P. for Hauraki, and W. R. Davidson, assistant chief engineer of railways, to Pokeno. There the party was met by Mr. J. Woodcock, chairman of the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce, Mr. W. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, Mr. F. Perkins, representing the Pukekohe Chamber, Mr. W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P. for Franklin, Mr. F. S. Dyson, Auckland district engineer of Public Works. Seven cars threaded their way along the proposed route to Paeroa. Stops were made at several points en route and the immense tracts of land which could be opened up were viewed. At a welcome at Paeroa, representations on behalf of the railway were made to the party. The importance of the railway to the district was stressed. Speeches were made at Ngatea at lunch time. Speaking at Ngatea, Mr. Taverner said that he was not in a position to promise anything regarding tho proposal. He assured a deputation from the Hauraki County Council that the suggestion, as far as lie was concerned, would receive sympathetic consiflVation. He realised the potential value of the area and the reasonable chance of railway heading motor transport.