The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1902. ROADS VERSUS RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 106, 7 May 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1902. ROADS VERSUS RAILWAYS.

At the meeting of the New Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Mr Hughes made a very praiseworthy attempt to bring on a general diseussim regarding the adoption of a more energetic policy of main road constraction. Some of the members did not, however, appear inclined for any serious business, and Mr Hughes very reluctantly agreed to postpone the consideratien of the matter until another meeting. This is much to be regretted, because no time should be lost in making the Government aware of the claims of Taranaki, and in urging the necessity of opening up the back country and giving settlers cheap and convenient access to the shipping ports. While we think Mr Hughes is entitled to the greatest praise for hie action, we regret to l«arn that on his suggesting the Chamber supporting the rigorous censtruction of the railway, several of those present exclaimed '■ No, go for the road." We hope and trust that before the next meeting is held the members of the (Jhamber will make a careful study of ths question, when we feel sure they wilt agree that a vigorous railway policy is what is wanted if Taranaki [is to progress as it ought, and tp bring country settlers alive to the advantages of New Plymouth as a port. Mr Hughes incidentally referred to the efforts being made in Wanganui to secure the trade of the country inland of Stratford, and he urged the necessity of pushing on the road from this end as a means of securing this trade for New Plymouth. Now this is just where a road, as against a railway policy, fails. Supposing, for instance, thft Ohura-road was metalled for 60 miles from Stratford, that would only mean that all the trade of the country east of the Pohokura saddle would go to the Wanganui rirer. Our Wanganui friends know this, and while New Plymouth is standing idle, having Stratford to fight alone for the railway which alone can be depended upon to bring the whole trade this way, our Wanganui friends are slowly but surely getting nearer the goal they have for years been striving to reach. When it is considered that the Ohuraroad runs through a settled area, where settlers live from five to even 20 miles down side roads, it will b? seen the enormous distances that have to bs travelled to reach a port and even the railway. If, on the other hand, their produce could be put on the train, as it ran past their side roads, and taken straight to the chip's side, ths saving in handling alone would be enormous, to say nothing of cheapness and saving in time. One member of the Chamber cf Commerce remarked "That raiways will follow the roads," but life is too short to wait for this. We strongly favour the American system of putting down a railway to promote settlement and making roads to foed it. A light r i way is the cheapest way of settling j our back country, anl can easily be s'lengthened as traffic demands it. j The Deed of New Plymouth, and indeed Taranaki, is the completion of the railway from Stratford to the Tangai nk.-iu, a railway from Waitara to I Moksu ami a iailwa.y from Nrfw Plymouth to Opunake via Oarringtoawould then enjoy even great, r prosperity than it now has, arid the wo? k of completing the harbour would be but a trifle compared with the enormous business that would be do> e.