SUPPORT WANTED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 702, 29 June 1929, Page 6

SUPPORT WANTED

RAILWAY TO OPOTIKI APPEAL TO AUCKLAND (From Our Own Correspondent) OPOTIKI, Friday. In a letter to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce the Opotiki Railway League takes strong exception to a resolution passed recently urging that a proper survey of the possible routes between Taneatua and Gisborne be made, and that the one which passed nearest to Opotiki should have preference. The league claims that the wording of the resolution is very vague and in no way likely to hasten the construction of the line to Opotiki. The league was looking forward to the chamber’s support in the agitation for the construction of the line to Opotiki, a line which was already surveyed and authorised. This line had been promised and construction was only stopped pending results of the traffic over the completed portion of the Bay of Plenty line. It is very evident this line is paying very well so far, and as railway traffic is paying generally there is now no reason why construction to Opotiki should not be gone on with. There is also need for a railway to Opotiki to tap the extensive country between Opotiki and the East Cape, and the league cannot understand why the chamber advocates further surveys, entailing extra cost, when the line to Opotiki is already authorised.

In the opinion of the league further surveys will only tend, to hold up the railway to the East Coast indefinitely. Opotiki always had faith that Auckland wanted Opotiki’s trade, and have been consistent customers of Auckland. The business of the district could be doubled or trebled if railway facilities were provided. This alone should warrant Auckland agitating for the railway to Opotiki. The league makes a strong appeal to the chamber to consider the project of the East Coast Main Trunk line to Opotiki, pointing out that with the construction of every mile, increased trade will result.