The Main Trunk Railway

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 245, 14 November 1903, Page 4

The Main Trunk Railway

The Premier's statement re the Paeroa-Waihi .railway has had the cflect of adducing the following application frvm the Auckland North Island Main Trunk Railway League, and the letter has been forwarded to the Premier -.—Sir, I' have the honor to inform you that the council of this league, seeing your statement in the papers, that you "are prepared to lay it down as a principle that you would take money from uny corporation or company that would advance it to finish our railways expeditiously on similar terms," are desirous of knowing whether you will pass legislation this session to enable the people of Auckland to find the money to construct a portion of the North of Auckland Main Trunk railway line north of its present terminus at Ahuroa, say, to Maungatutoto, on the same principle as the Paeroa-Warhi line is to be constructed ?_We are, etc., Frank Dodle (vice president), R. R. Hunt (general secretary). In conversation with a New Zealand Herald reporter on the subject of this letter the secretary expressed the opinion that plenty of money would be forthcoming in Auckland if it could be ear-marked for the North of Auckland railway, and 4 per cent, paid on it by the Government, as in the case of the Paeroa-Waihi railway, on an eight years' currency of debentures. Mr Hunt also considered that the North of Auckland settlers, though poor enough, could in many instances subscribe £IOO for such a purpose. He added that there was plenty of money in the savings jtyanks here only receiving 2J per cent, and at fixed deposit in the banks at 1 percent. A great deal of this-might be diverted, Mr Hunt thought, to this project H the Government passed an Act to earmark the money so subscribed for the purpose of constructing the»next 25 miles of railway from Ahuroa to Maungaturoto. The matter has been placed In the hands of Messrs Massey, Harding, and Alison, M.H.R.'s, to bring before and to try and .bring it W a conclusion this session.