THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 171, 6 December 1912, Page 4

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

MEETING AT OAKURA,

ONE LEAGUE, ONE OBJECT.

About sixty settlers attended the meeting which was held in the Oakura Hall last night *o discuss matters in connection with the proposed New PlymouthOpunake railway. .Messrs. F. S. Johns, P. Webster. A.'if. Johnstone and Penn were present, a* representing' the New Plymouth centre of the Western Tarana'ki Railwsy League, and Mr. H. Okey, M.P., was also in attendance. Mr. Adlam was voted to the chair. Something he said must be done to cope with the heavy traffic on the roads, which were =very expensive to keep up at present. He urged on them the necessity of having unani nity of purpose right through from New 'Plymouth to Opunake It would be necessary for all to decide on a programme ami stick to it. Referring to light railway*, he remarked that if the district only got, a light railway it would mean that they would get, their goods carted cheaper ami also save money by lighter rates to upkeep the road*'. He also mentioned that if the Government could not construct the railway, private enterprise should be allowed to carry it out. Mr. A. If. Johnstone, chairman of the \~ew Plymouth League, said that the main object was 'o form a Western Taranaki Railway League, and agitate by all the means in their power for t'he establishment as soon as possible of a railWay along the eoast, on a route to be fixed by the Government Engineer. The district had been closely settled for many years, and the reading question was now baffling the local bodies concerned. It was costing £2OO per annum for the mainlenaiH'o of each mile of road. Horses and motors bad been tried on the road, lmfc were too cosily and too slow. A railway, or a light railway. was~-nceded. He referred at length to the finding of the recent Commission, which was very favourable to the railway down the Coast. He pointed out c'hat all the local bodies bad passed resolutions affirming the desirability of the railway line. The Taranaki Chamber of Commerce was supporting the Railway League, whose whole object, was to push forward the scheme, lie then explained What had been done re sending a deputation to Wellington. Time had been too short to consult the various branches, but the deputation had been a thorough success. The Minister recognised that something must be done and done at once to cope with the needs of the district, and was. moreover, of opinion that it would pay. Therefore, t'he League could go ahead with good heart. Their interests in New Plymouth were identical with those down the coast. He sugg?=te<l the formation of one big League with branches at various centres, and one central secretary. This would save duplication of work. He inentic.ned that the subscription in Nnv Plymouth was s*. and urged everyone down the coast to join, pointing out that £2OO was interest at "> per cent, on £lO.(100. Th- Centra) Committee would watch closely everything in connection with railways, and Mr. Okey in Wellington would keep them posted of anything transpiring there, particularly Ministerial movements, and wleui any money was being expended on railways. Tn conclusion, he nnnrked thai the Minister of Public Works and the Prime Minister would be visiting the district in January, and the League would motor them through the district to all places of interest, and show them thoroughly what 'was doing. Tt was for the League to work hard. Tlmv must succeed if they pushed. Let all become memebrs, anil work for one common object. The Minister of Public Works had gone so far as to say that if the Government could not find the money private enterprise should be allowed to construct it. He also stated that it would help if the settlers were prepared to guarantee the money. No doubt -t would, for. as the Minister put it, the settlers could do it with a light heart as they would never be called upon to pay. Mr. P. P. Johns, as President of the Chamber of Commerce, said that that body was doing all it could to assist the new League. He urged them to work on t'he principle of one object, one. League. Mr. Rice referred to the success achieved by the Whangamomona League seven years ago.

Mr. Peim suggested that they ' should do as had been done at Warea—form a branch of the Western Taranaki Railway League with a local committee, and two delegates to the central committee. Mr. Rice moved that a branch be formed at Oakura.

Mr. Blackball seconded this. Ho said that judging by the attendance alt were satisfied Hut a railway was required. Having experience of both sides of the mountain, he was of opinion that railway was required on the New Plymouth side more than on the Eltham side. 0» that side the land was richer and did not require so much manure, besides being' belter able to pay the extra rate. Manure was much required here and with an extra las per ton for cartage became very expensive. He suggested that statistics should be gathered showing thfr amount of traffic between Eltham and Opunake. He was certain the latter would be the greater. It was most important that the railway should start from Moturoa.

The resolution was carried. About 50 gave their names in at once as members of the League. Mr. Okey, in reply to a question, stated that it was proposed to ask the Minister of Public AA'orks and possibly the Prime Minister to visit New Plymouth in March to open the refinery. The railway could then be placed before them. If the League contained as members every man along the line that would show the Ministers that they were determined to have something done. They would find it would be necessary to do more than ask, "Why," he remarked, "the Prime Minister has been asking for a railway to AA 7 aiuku for years, and could not get it authorised until he got into the Cabinet himself." He referred to the fact that the recent deputation had been the strongest that had ever waited on Parliament. He impressed on them that it would be useless to ask for a railway costing from £IO,OOO to £14,000 per mile. If they got it it would he necessary to go in for a light railway costing from '£3ooo to £SOOO per mile. It was not a main line. All they needed was something to carry their produce, and themselves to town. They did not require fancy stations ether. These cost money. The Minister of Public Works, he said, favoured light railways as feeders to main lines, but the Minister of Railawys objected to them because after they were built the settlers wanted all the conveniences of a main line. The League must be prepared to show that it was satisfied with a light line. If the settlers were prepared to mortgage their land to guarantee the interest, as was done in the case of loans to local bodies, that would be double security. If a policy of that kind was brought forward he thought districts willing to do so should have preference. Again, the settlers might say they would borrow the money themselves with the idea of going to the Government for the money, as was the case with loans to local bodies. The Government, however, could only borrow a certain amount per vear, and that would not get them out of the difficnltA'.

It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Blnckhal.l and Morris, that it he a recommendation to the central committee to appoint a canvasser or canvassers to collect membership subscriptions, and also pet signatures of people living between New Plymouth and Opunake to the petition. '

The following committee was appointed: Messrs Blackball, Adlani, W. Houevfield, P. Morris, senr., H. Looncy, W. Linn, McAllum, Bice, Sumner and Mrs Dougherty.

Votes of thanks were accorded to the jSiew Plymouth delegates, and the chairman.

At a subsequent meeting, Mr. 0 A Adlam was appointed chairman, Mr J H. Rice secretary, and Messrs. Adlam and Morris as delegates. It was also resolved to recommend the local executive to appoint Mr. J. H. Rice as local canvasser.