THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 137, 28 October 1912, Page 4

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

MINISTER DEPUTATIONISED. < A HOPEFUL REPLY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent). Wellington, Saturday. The deputation organised by the newlyformed Western. Taranaki Railway League waited upon the Minister of Public Works last night, with regard to the Moturoa-Opunake railway. The deputation comprised Messrs. Newton King, G. W. Browne, J. Burgess, W. J. Penn, J. Brown, J. Fleming, J. B. Connett, J. Andrews, T. P. Hughson, C. H. Burgess, A. Morton, R. Morrow, W. J. Gray, A. H. Johnstone and J. Gibson. The Hons. T. Kelly and O. Samuel, Messrs. H. J. Okey, and C. A. Wilkinson, M.P,.'s, were also present. In making out their ease the deputation enlarged upon the serious drawback, under which the district was suffering on account of lack of proper transport facilities, and pointed to the heavy cost of maintaining the arterial roadfl. The deputation concluded by urging the authorisation of a railway, and in this connection mentioned the comparative cheapness with rfhich a light railway could be laid down in the district. In reply the Minister said that he wag considerably impressed with the earnestness of the deputation. He undertook exactly the difficulties peculiar to the district, and assured them that he would endeavour to alleviate them. It was no use, however, promising anything that he might not be able to carry out. It was patent to him that they could not go oil as they were, and that the roads ■would not carry the traffic. His personal inclination lay in .the direction of light lines. If the Government could not mak« railways, local enterprise should be allowed to do.so, or to give a guarantee' against lose. ; The trouble w4s, continued the Minister, that at present the Government had no money for the railway, and might not be able to borrow favourably. In stating that he could-not give them a guarantee that Cabinet would include the line in the Authorisation Bill, Mr. Fraser assured them .that if it did not they need have no fear that the. line was any further from realisation than if it were authorised this session.

Concluding, Mr. Fraser said that most assuredly if the light line policy were fixed upon by the Government, it would bo applied to" this particular district. The deputation could rest assured that he would go right througfl the district in the reces6.