MT. EGMONT QUARRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 195, 26 November 1910, Page 4

MT. EGMONT QUARRIES.

Quo-tioned by the member for Stratford as to the intentions of the Government in regard to carrying on crushing operations at the Mt. Egmont quarries, the Minister for Public, Works replied on Wednesday thai it had been decided not to re-open the crusher until the line was extended to the quarry proper. Mr. Uine proceeded to say that after expending nearly £OO,OOO on building the six miles of line, erecting cottages, etc.. the Public Works Department had decided that the whole concern was in a bad way. and promptly transferred the control to the working railways department. He pointed out that the whole of the local authorities from Wanganui northward were practically dependent on this quarry for future supplies, and the action of the Minister in deciding to

by expressing the hope that the Minister would reconsider his decision, and make an attempt to supply the metal during this summer, on the same conditions. The Minister of Railways said lie would like it to be understood at once that he was not going to supply stone again at the price previously charged, which he could tell the members was below cost price. And, further, even if the Department did decide to re-open the crusher, the local bodies would have to wait until late in autumn for delivery, owing to all trucks being required for more lucrative work. The Minister said it was the Public Works Department's duty to hasten the construction of the line to the permanent quarries, when very probably the Railway Department would take the whole output. The point to which we wish to draw attention is contained in the last two lines: "Very probably the Railway Department would take the whole output." This means there is a strong probability of the quarry being closed to the local bodies of the province who have been looking forward since 1902, when the construction of the line was decided upon, to obtaining their supplies of metal from the mountain. Mr. Hinc stated the case correctly when he said the local bodies were practically dependent upon this quarry for future supplies. It will be a, distinct breach of faith if the Minister is allowed to carry out his intention of conserving the supplies for the Railway Department. Why he should take up such a hostile, unreasonable attitude we cannot understand. The supplies are illimitable, the crushing plant and all the gear are there, the local bodies are quite prepared to pay the cost of the metal (they do not, want it at under cost), and there should" be not the slightest difficulty in supplying both the Department and the whole of the local bodies of the coast. We say it would be a distinct breach oi faith because the railway was constructed as much in the interests of the local bodies as the Railway Department. Hear what Sir (then Mr.) Hall-Jones said in his statement of 1903 before the work was commenced: —

The need of a short-branch railway to tap the vast stone deposits on the slopes of Mt. Egmont becomes more and more urgent every year. The soil in.Taranaki is for the most part of a deep rich loam, and stone and gravel are scarce commodities, the result being that both road and railway maintenance becomes inordinately expensive. The railways are much in need of supplies of good ballast, and the local bodies require good metal for the roads. The providing of a ready means of tapping the rock and boulders of the mountain will serve both purposes, and the Barge amount of traffic that the line will carry from the outset will insure its being a remunerative undertaking, to say nothing of the benefit to the local bodies by reducing the cost of road maintenance in the district.

Had the Minister a proper conception of his responsibilities and an appreciation of the obligations of the Government in this matter, he would not attempt to burke the local bodies, but do everything in his power to facilitate their getting all the supplies of metal they require at the very earliest opportunity. We hope the matter will not be allowed to stand where it is but that united effort will be made by all interested to obtain for the local bodies of the province what is only common justice from the Government.