Our Letter Box.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7887, 1 August 1905, Page 2

Our Letter Box.

We are not responsible for opinions, expressed by correspondents.) THE RAILWAY TO WHANG AMO- ' MONA. j (To the Editor.) ! Sir. —An article, hpaded " Koad or ' Hallway '? " appeared in the HuWget ' 01 the 15th. It ia our intention to' Blanc.* at it giving the' feelings of ! the bush sotittlers on the -mptter. The ' article opens with tho remark that a ! deputation from the Taranuki Chamber of Conmerco' left for Wellington I for certain purposes, to wit, to j bring beforo tho notico of Ministers I the condition of the Ohura KoaU | (among other matters). The head- j ing of tho lanticlo tells us exactly I what other matters were dealt with —matters connected with the railway. To be quite clear, it wus a decided attempt to block 'the petition of the peoplo of Whangamomonla —tho petition praying for a railway. Tho editor fearod he was too late to influence and direct th'e deputation but the settlers know Ifuite well the policy of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Budget towards the isolated inhabitants of tho back blocks. They know that for ten ycari thete has been a steady opposition, from those quarters, to any improTOment i'n the condition of the setUters, and it needed not this article to open the eyes of those who have been made to suffer, Tl'no editor, after -kindly mentioning tho particulars ol our petition for a railway, says, ho has jno objection- to tho railway, but that he feels stronfely that it is shorsighted policy on our part to ask for a railway beforo we have a road. Now, sir, the setters of Whangaanomona have been whecdlod by tho same gammon during the past ten years, and how miany miles of retold have been metalled ? Not many ; about a milo a year. And what has been the result of all this mighty .metallingWhy ! We have to pay more now for our goods than we paid ten years ago. Wc feel that metalling is ruining us. The editor thinks it is shortsighted policy to ask for a lhilway but wo are perfectly sure it Is most short-sighted policy on fn-is part to oppose tho railway, because toy meant of this opposition and oppression our trado is gradually going v elsewhere and will cortainly be lost to Taranaki-. Other seaport towns welcome comiminicati«nf) toy road and| rail with their back countries on lstrict business

principles. Why then does New Plymouth tpke the other i pursc ? Surely if we ha<l railway conuminacatipn with New Plymouth all our tradi would he with our nearest port. As j it is the settlers are making preparations to deal directly with Wellington or Auckland. We cannot understand ti'iis opposition and arc determined to look after the interest of the many, and rfot as the Chamber of Commerce <loc9, after that of the few. The editor next, mentions the case of the settlers on the Mountain road, between Hawetvi, qs on parallel lines to ours. He says the railroad did them no Knot' because they had no metalled roads. We fail to see the paj»allel. What we waint is. a market and a means of transit to a market. All the Mountain road people wafjtod was a ir.eto.Uad, road. If we get the railroad we shall gyt the metallod roads right enough,bu|t, if we do not get the railway, metallod roaUs are of no use to us. . He points o\rt) h'o,w the pttppl" Itho Mountain road worked for metalling when they got the railway.—Good men.—So shall we. The only use we have for our mud 'tracks now is to get our eatftlilps from the store. Wo dare not produce anything, not having a market. We suppose it was the same way wi th the mountain road s people, before they had the railway T.,ijs editor now mentions the railway to Mount' Egniont and its object—to get metal for the roads, but, all at once, thinks thjat burnt papa would do better. It is a pity the editor,, and others, did not think of this valuable burnt papa before they they arranged to turn off the railway from its proper direction in order to isolate us. It is amusing to think how that littlo affair was managed. The railway ttL Mount Egniont took away the money thait should havo been expended on our line and served to isolate us for years. Now the people who worked that little affair say the line was not wanted for the purpose «t fir# advanced. The editor goes on to point out the financial advantages wo shall derive from using the burnt papa on the rofcwls —The firewood, the labour, etc.—But he is rather hito as so much money has boon already expended on the tourist line to Mount Kgmont, whose only use is to supply metal for ou.r i-oads. The next bogey advanced is the cost of the Whangamomona line. Ho thinks to frighten the members of Parliament, «nd argues that the road will cost less. In the first place we doubt lvis figuresi and in the next place we say that for the sake of Now Plymouth, and for the sake of the settlers the railway is absolutely necessary, and the road can wait, or if it is possible, both matters should boiattendod to, especially the railway. Then comes the matter of time. The editor tells us that it will take two years to make the railway t,o Huiakama, and that it will pot give any relief to thq people of Whangainomoua. We expect the section ol railway to Huiakama will bo finished this year. Wo know the ground, and are certain that it can be do;ie. Again, Huiakama is, only 16J miles from Whang-aniotmona. A horso and cart can reach| Huiakama before breakfast time, and retuitv loadwl before tea time. At present it takes four or five days' to gy to Stratford and tack. The Wlmngamomona people are not so simple as to jask for what would be of no use to them. The next move is to try to get the money voted for railway works

expended on the roods. W'.a Have already stated that .metalled roads are of no use to us as «>> are situ alert, and would not benoiit the settlers generally to any great extent. The editor says the settlers will not be greatly handicapped without a railWay for many ypors to opine, We are heavily hhndjpnpped, and evidently the Chamber of (ionintoree wishes us to repiajn sp, We are oppressed, and, most unnaturally, by our chief town. It seems to be the wish of the editor and the Chamber of Commerce to keep us in isolation and slavery for many years to come. The editor talks of butter as if we had nothing else to live for. Surely farmers' have otter things besides .-butler on their holdings. We must have roads, but all the metalling money can give us will not increase butterfat 'above (>d per lb. The editor acknowledges that tine lfeilway will roduce the cost ol oonveyingt stores to Whangamomona and of carrying produqe out, and- adds "s'o will the road." We hayo already stated that such is not the v'.ase as regards roa'ds. We are next tofd that we—poor simple people— do not know what we sent, .that wo li a vc set our hearts oiv a railway in order to procure loads. Die editor ism k|ml (mi} wise man, an<| we thank hjm muchly. He rpppits himself, a«rt speaks of the lflng time we are to be in bondage or thfltylio hopes we Bha\l lie. Wo rip not intend remaining in an isolatr "I position any lpuser than we can help, and wo have altogether given lip t:» idea of seeking help from New Plymouth. Wo have formed league, and intend using all the influence w« cait u> get some way ()l it of this terrible ■ losition. We are lastly advised to , Irop the railway 'and go in for roads. All through this article we ara . treated to advice which seems heartelt, and may be wholesome fi'o'ii:, the Chamber of Commerce's view of the rase, but tile advice is not good ac- ; ording to our viewi. nor is it in our ' nterest and wo go further andi say hat the advice is not in the inter- 1 sts of Taranaki.—Wo are, etc., 1 THE WHANGAMOMONA HAIL, ] WAY LEAGUE, (