BY ROAD AND RAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 49, 15 July 1914, Page 6

BY ROAD AND RAIL.

WELLINGTON'S NKKDS. A roiiierenee of representatives of \\ i !Jiiiutor; city and provincial bodi'-s has been Milium iii the Kmpire City, with a view of having better road and rail (r.niniuiiication between tin* city arid the country. Among other matters <1 isrii>M'd were the necessity for providing a better railway route to the Wuirarapa than the present- Uimutaka incline, with Its disabilities ;t ud excessive maintenance tost: an easier grade on Hie line at J'aekakariki; and the shortening of the main Weilingtnn-to-Ncw Plymouth line ii\ enlistraiding tlie line from Levin to (■ i'ea' ford. cutting out Palmerston North and Feilding. The Premier was waited upon bv a large deputation trow the conference. Replying. Mr Hassey said | t l.a L as t»> the Uimutaka deviation, this \\as a matter alioiit which the Government had practically made up their mimK lie did not mean to say that thev had deiiuitely decided what th"V were going to do, but tlie matter had been before the Cabinet, anil they had decided that some improvement must be made. He was surprised that the Wairarapa people bad been patient- so long. The\ had decided t'hat. if necessarv. a roiiunis>ion of experts would be appointed to go into the whole question and recommend what should be doii<*. With regard to the opening up of the Ka-t Coast district, he was not personal iy acquainted with the country, but I t'he Minister for Public Works. who had ' mud:- a recent visit, was very favorably ' impressed with it. the extent, and ijuabty , of the land a\ailable tar exceeding his : e\pectations. in view of the favorable oiltlook for exports, particularly to I'anada and the i'nited States, the Cov- !» i iiiJH iii had decided that the time- had '(•nine when better means o! communieaition must !; ■ provided, and the; were

g.dng in ask Parliament for a sufficient Mini of money during the present session lor the purpose. The I Jovemment had made up their minds that a loan ■diould lie asked for to raise sufficient num.'y in order to provide a proper railv.iu -tation for Wellington, In the meantime, it would be considered whether it- w;h possible to brill. 1 ;' all «.he lailwav r-tations to Lainbton station, Tlie new manager was preparing- an

cliiluiViitc report on the niilways of ihr counti'v. witli ivri>m!'ii'iiil;\t,ioiis tn uliiit. MIOIIIII lie iloni' in all important uiiittrrs. That rt'poit would tie. very snuit available.