The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1919. VIGOROUS RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 1919. VIGOROUS RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION.

In a circular issued by the chairman of the Auckland Railways League (Mr. P. E. Cheal) it is stated that Taranaki is waking up as to vigorous railway construction. This statement is a little wide of tho mark, for Taranaki has never been in a somnolent state on this matter. At the same time, any spur, from Auckland or elsewhere, is welcome, and it is quite possible that concerted action with other centres will be helpful in the effort to obtain the much needed railway facilities that will advance tlie trade of the port and assist in the development of the province's resources. With this object, Mr. Cheal has arranged to deliver an address at the Good Templar Hall to-morrow (Wednesday) [ evening, under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce. The meeting is one that should receive the support and of all who are interested

in the welfare of Taraaaki, for there is 110 question that a vigorous prosecution of the Stratford-Okahukura line, as well as that round the mountain, is of the greatest importance and of the utmost urgency. The idea of the Auckland League is to secure the co-operation of Hawke'a Bay and Taranaki for a series of connecting lines, as well as opening up the north of Auckland. In view of the extreme need of greater production, it is imperative there should be provided railway communication to open up as much as possible of the back country, and to construct the requisite roads that will act as feeders to the railways. This, of course, means the expenditure of large sums of money and the employment of a considerable number of men, but the difficulty is that every district considers its own needs are the most urgent, so that it is a problem to decide which lines should receive most attention in view of the financial and man power limitations- If only a definite policy could be framed so that each line could be finished in rotation and according to its importance, good results would accrue, for the present policy of throwing a sop to various constituencies by putting a few men on the work is the worst that can be imagined. It will be well for the attendance at Mr. Cheal's address to be large and representative. The matter is one that needs pressing on the Government with all the force available.