THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 274, 11 April 1913, Page 8

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

I THE BATTLE OF ROUTES. I The Eltham Argus, is angry about the way things are going in connection' with the Opunake railway, and gives vent to its feelings in this vigorous fashion:— Anyone who is not blind can see in the words of the Premier an indication that there is every possibility of the Opunake railway being still indefinitely held up. Mr. Msssey says: "If the question of rival routes cropped up." It has cropped up; the battle of the routes is raging; the Prime Minister had eveiy evidence of it afforded him by rival deputations—and the natural corrollarv will be, as Mr. Massey puts it. "the devoting of the money to some other works." The long delay in the construction of this much-needed line, and the ckshing of opinions on the question of this route, are due to the avarice of a few men in Stratford. We speak with positive knowledge of the subject when we say that had it not been for Stratford's interference in the matter the Opunake-Eltham railway would have been in the course of construction now. ... A glance at a map will show what a grievous wrong was done to this district when the branch from near Eltham to Toko was diverted from its original course. When the line is through from Stratford to Ongarue it will mean an enormous waste of money to run , heavy mail trains up the steep grade to Stratford when a much shorter route to Toko, and ,'on an easy grade, may be found by following the original reserved route, the route recommended by the engineers, and the land for which'is already in the possession, of the Government. . . . The present Government has made many professions about giving everyone a '•"square deal." Wake up. Elthm! Get a move on! Insist upon getting a "square deal" in railway matters.