THE COASTAL RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 134, 24 October 1912, Page 4

THE COASTAL RAILWAY.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. RAILWAY LEAGUE JNAUGURATED. That the business people of New Plymouth fully realise the importance of railway communication between New Plymouth and Opunake along the coast was evidenced by the enthusiasm displayed by the large and representative attendance at the meeting held in the Council Chambers last night to consider the formation of a Railway League to urge .the construction of the Western Taranaki railway. About 50 people .were present, and apologien were received for the absence of Messrs. F. P. Corkill, J. E. Wilson, 1 1 . S. Johns, E. W. Garner, J. B. Connett and C. H. Weston. The Mayor, who presided, explained the objects for which the meeting had been called, viz., to form a railway league to get into touch with the Government and bring under their notice the Moturoa-Opunake Railway. This portion of the coast, he pointed out was isolated, and unless immediate steps were taken in the matter, would probably be left so for many years. A deputation should, he considered, be sent to Wellington to endeavour to have a sum of money placed on the Estimates to survey the whole length from Moturoa to Te Roti, which the Commission had strongly advised should be started at both ends.

Mr. King, in the course of a forceful address, said that the coast, as they all knew, was in a very bad way. The Commission that was set up had thoroughly investigated the whole position, and after visiting all the points of interest had recommended that a railway should be built from Moturoa to Te Roti. At the time a proposal was being discussed for a tramway down the coast, but after the Commission's recommendation, that had been put aside. He was astonished to see in the Public Works Statement that it iwas only proposed to authorise a portion from Te Roti to Opunake. What they required was a line from Moturoa to Opunake. The coast settlers, he continued, were very much in earnest in the matter, and had held meetings and appointed delegates to represent the position to Parliament. The position down the coast, he again emphasised, was thoroughly bad. They could not cart their produce and manure without pitying a tremendous price; in fact the rates were almost prohibitive, and even then it was impossible to get the stuff carted out. He himself had been waiting five or sixweeks to get manures carted to settlers down the coast, and as a result the Reason had gone by and it would have to remain in the settlers' sheds till next year. This was undoubtedly a serious menace. New Plymouth was the proper business town for the coast, as their produce came this way and they obtained their supplies from here, so that it was necessary for. New Plymouth to work hand in hand with them. The necessity for the Railway League must, he continued, be patent to all. as was also the need for a deputation. He had been called as a witness before the Commission. which was unanimous that Moturoa would be the port for Taranaki. It was," therefore, he urged, up to them to throw of)' that laziness or apathy, and he must say that they were certainly not as goahead ns some neighbouring towns, and enthusiastically take up the matter. He then moved that a Western Taranaki Railway League be formed. In seconding this. Mr. A. 11. Johnstone dwelt on the importance of the subject. ITe did not consider it necessary to go into statistics, because probably all knew the vast amount of traffic between New Plymouth and the Western I)istilicl. which was now carried on in a most uneconomical, dilatory and unsatisfactory manner, lie instanced that freight to Rnhotu was 35s per ton. This placed a very severe penalty on the settlers, and greatly increased the cost of living to them. The evil, too. was being accentuated every year, as the volume of produce was yearly increasing and so were, the imports, while the road was getting worse. The harbor improvements at Moturoa would still further accentuate the position. Horses could not. cope with the traffic, motors had been tried and failed, traction engines had been taxed off the road, tolls had been erected to the annoyance of all, but without avail. Undoubtedly the true solution was a railway. This was not the opinion of an unskilled person, but was that of the Commission, who found that a railway, and not a tramway, was the proper solution. How to get the railway was the question. One way was to agitate and keep on agitating. They had some splendid examples of the work done by Railway Leagues in other centres. The activity in Ilawera had not been without result. They had been awake, whilst we were asleep, he continued. New Plymouth had an excellent case, one which did not need any bolstering up. The Commission found that the line would pay from its first laying down. It passed through country which had been closely settled for many years. Form a Railway League, he urged,, as an organisation to watch and agitate. A small subscription would be necessary to provide funds, but what was still more important was the enthusiasm of the members. If they took the matter up enthusiastically and members of the Coastal Committees worked' with them he was confident that sooner or later they would get the railway. Mr. King said that to show how earnest the coastal people were on the matter, they had said to the Government: "You can put a, Bill through so as to rate us and we will pay any deficiency on the interest, or if not put a Bill through to enable us to build the railway ourselves." To be of any use a deputation must reach Wellington this week, he stated, as he had received the following telegram from Mr. Okey: "The Minister of Public Works states that the Authorisation Bill is likely to come on before Tuesday, and suggests that your deputation interview him before the Bill is prepared. The Minister favours Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Mr. Amhurv considered that it was important that Ihe deputation should urge that any money allocated should be for the Te Roti-Moturoa line. Mr. 0. W. Govett said that everyone knew that money was scarce, and that the work could not be carried out immediately, but the Commission had recommended that it should be started at Te Roti and Moturoa simultaneously, and that was the important point. It was no use to set up a Commission and then give it the go-by. The League should keep to the Te Roti-Moturoa scheme and not support a tin-pot thing like the Te Roti-Opunake line. It was no use to have a fifth-rate' scheme, when a first-rate one was on hand. Tn conclusion, lie urged upon them to be prepared to support the League solidly with many years of hard work, it was 110 use if it was to be merely a flash in the pan, formed in a burst of wild enthusiasm. Tt would possibly take many years of steady, hard grind to attain their ends. Mr. Shaw thought they should confine themselves to asking the Government for the Moturoa-Opunake Railway and leave Te Roti out. That line wouid undoubtedly follow. The motion was carried.

All present then signified their intention of joining the League, and it, was resolved that the subscription lie ss. Officers were appointed as follows: President. Mr. Newton King; vice-presi-dent and chairmnn of committee. Mr. A. TT. Johnstone; committee. Messrs. A. Morton, M. Fraser. R. W. Slrvw, L. A. Nolan, W. .1. Penn, F. C. Bellringer, F. S. Johns, W. Amtmry, Jas. McLeod, R.

Cock, D. K. Morrison, E. Griffiths, and E. P. Webster. At a committee meeting held subsequently, Mr. E. Snowball was appointed secretary. Messrs. Newton lung, A. H. Johnstone, A. Morton and W. J. Penn were appointed a deputation to proceed to Wellington on Saturday to wait on the Minister of Public Works, and it wan also resolved to ask the Mayor of New Plymouth, and the Chairmen of the Taranaki County Council, New Plymouth Harbor Board and Parihaka Road Board to accompany them. The coastal delegates will be communicated with, and if possible a combined meeting of the deputation will be held in New Plymouth this evening to arrange details.