RAILWAY WANTED.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1919, Page 6

RAILWAY WANTED.

WAITARA TO TE KUITI' CLIFTON COUNTY TAKES ACTION. The Clifton County Council decided on Friday that it is desirable that a survey should be made of a route for a railway (light or otherwise) to serve the large area of unrailed and practically unroaded land lying between Waitara and Te Kuiti on the Main Trunk railway.

Mr. J. B. Carr, hon. secretary of the Okau District Settlers' Association (representative of Tongaporutu, Okau, Kotare and Rerekapa), notified on October 16 a resolution had been carried to the effect that it was the opinion of the association that it would be in the interests of the district between Waitara and Te Kuiti to have a railway route surveyed and later authorised, and that the counties of Clifton, Awakino, and Waitomo should _be asked to form themselves into a railway league for the furtherance of the project. Councillor F. C. Jones referred to a newspaper report regarding a railway area having been formed in the Pio Pio district (near Te Kuiti)) under the Light Railways Act, and the necessary petition having been sent to the Minister for gazetting. He expressed the opinion that if anything at all was to be done something more progressive was required than tinkering with the matter at the Te I Kuiti end and possibly the Waitara end He thought that the line should be capable of carrying the produce of the district, including Mokau coal, timber and lime. The line would undoubtedly pay on the section between Waitara and Uruti and also between Pio Pio and Te Kuiti, while the intervening portion would serve to bring out the supplies of coal, lime and timber, as well as meet the needs of settlers. After the action of the Minister of Public Works in connection with the Opunake-Moturoa railway, it did not look as if thev would have much hope of getting the line quickly. It appeared that the obstacle was not so much finance as labour, Willi regard to the latter it seemed that, if progress was to be mad° in the matter of roads, bridges and railways, immigration was necessary, while regarding the former he thought the suggestion of the Hon. Major Hine to issue Public Works bonds redeemable in so many years was preferable to being,stuck for money. Councillor Jones moved that copies of the resolution be sent, with a request for co-operation, to the Awakino and Waitomo County Councils, to the Waitara, New Plymouth and Te Kuiti Borough Councils, and to the Waitara and New Plymouth Chambers of Commerce.

The chairman (Councillor R_ H. Piggott) asked if any estimate bad been made of the amount of produce and material to be carried between Waitara and Uruti, as Councillor Jones had said that section would pay. Councillor Jones replied in the nega-

; ive, but said that by comparison with i !ier such routes it should do so.

Councillor Musker pointed out that f.iere would be development immediately the raliway was commenced or decided upon.

Councillor Jones said that if a survey and an estimate of the cost were obtained it would be possible to estimate whether the line would pay.

Councillor T. MacKenzie said he feared t.'iat if they dabbled in too many things they might "miss the bus" and not get the road for which they had been struggling for so long. The -chairman said he thought the district would be quite well off if it had a good road. Other members pointed out that those who asked for a lot got the most.

Councillor Musker said he could not see how the large area of land at the northern end of the county could ever be developed if it was not given a railway.

The chairman said there were already a number of railways in the country that were not paying because of lack of roads to feed them. Councillor Jones said it was best to put the railways first and the roads afterwards. The motion was put to the meeting and carried.