THE OPNNAKE RAILWAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 7 June 1909, Page 3

THE OPNNAKE RAILWAY

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. A deputation from the Opunake dis trict, introduced by Mr. Dive. J1.1'.. waited on the Prime Minister yesterday to urge that the tinveniment xlionhl proceed with the construction of a railway from Opunake to <onneit with the main line from Wellington to -New Plymouth. The deputation declared that the district was .prepared to guarantee any deficiency on the working of the railway up to 3'/ 2 per cent. The cost Oi reading the district, it .was pointed out. had gone up to such an extent that recent tenders for metalling were as high ns £2OOO per mile, and they asked that the construction of the railway should be commenced at an early date, as each year of delay was.a vcrv'serious matter to the district. In fact, it was' stated that local bodies could not keep the roads in order with the present revenue, although some lands were rated as high as as per acre. If the Government approved of the proposal, the local bodies were prepared to go to the settlers and ask them to guarantee 3>/ 8 per cent, on, the estimated cost of the line. £153,000 Th« Prime Minister, in reply to the representations, said the deputation could get no proume from the Government to-day. It could only be dealt with by Cabinet when considering the Public Works Statement. Ministers sever made promises for railway works, fts it was essential that in every case' they should have the fullest information before them. As to guaranteeing the interest on the'cost oi construction of the line, the Government had already intimated that it would bring down legislation dealing with the subject. The Government must provide a system that would operate equally in all directions. He did not say that they should expect as high a rate as 3'/, per cent, for any line. There were many places which m. the future would require railways, and which could reasonably expect to pay 3K 2 per cent., and as a railway was a pioneering institution to enable people to Jive on more reasonable lines, it was only a proper thing to say that they must be given time to make - a reasonable return. Ia the legislation the Government was bringing down, every consideration would be given to the requests of the deputation but the Government itself did not know what . would be necessary until it came to deal with what was a very difficult problem, and which the Minister for Public Works had been, and would be for some time to come, engaged upon—the provision of railways within the financial limits of the Government. The Government had prepared legislation to ensure that there should not be a heavy loss On lines running through country that would not pay for axle-grease. Tlere had been instances Of that kind in the Dominion and they wanted to pretent the possibility of it happening again The Government did not want to girard against good districts from the raifeay • ■point of view, but against district's ■which were not able to give a sufficient return upon the cost of constructioi of the railway. In reply to .a question, Sir Joseph Ward refused to state when the kgl mZZ™? be . J ,rm, g ht do™. It was sa "l. and would .be introduced at the proper time The Minister for Public Works (Hon. Lf e ff« ,M re P lied to th * Mutation. The Government, he said w-as out of hand, and the policy was that •LikS*™* *" Started !t sho «'<l °* -Snisned as soon a s possible.