THE MOTUROA-OPUNAKE LINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1919, Page 4

THE MOTUROA-OPUNAKE LINE.

DELETED FROM RAILWAYS BILL. NO TARANAKI MEMBERS PRESENT. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last NightWhen the Railways Authorisation Bill came before the House to-day, the Minister for Public Works said that the schedule contained two lines of railways. that had been inserted by mistake. He proposed to ask the House to delete these lines. One was the Te Roti-Opunake extension. This was an extension of the authorised line from Opunake to the connection with tlie existing lino at Moturoa, and the other was the Kaihu Valley extension. The two lines were cut out of the schedule without debate, and the Bill was passed. The position in regard to the Opunake line is peculiar. Taranaki members had been told before the Bill was circulated that this line was not included, and they prepared to make a vigorous protest. When they received the Bill they found that the line was in the schedule. It happened that when the Bill was reached to-day no Taranaki member was in the House and the deletion was made in a few moments, without any protest being raised.