OPENING NEW LAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1920, Page 3

OPENING NEW LAND.

THE STRATFORD-OKAHUKURA RAILWAY. _____ ! SLOW PROGRESS CRITICISED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Feb. 24. The immediate necessity of pushing on with the work of construction on the Stratford-Okahukura railway waa strongly urged at the public meeting held at Stratford on Monday night, for the purpose of discussing the new station site, Mr. \Y. P. Kirkwood, chairman of the Stratford Railway League, expressed the opinion that the Government had not been sincere in regard to the matter. He stated that there was a large amount of heavy work to be done in the next seven miles, necessitating an expenditure of probably £400,000, but on the Public | Works Estimates last year only £20,000 was voted, and this might not be all spent. The League had been endeavoring to obtain a definite idea as to when the line would be finished,- but could get no satisfaction. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., compared, the work on the Stratford-Okahukura line with the-work on other main lines. On the North Auckland railway there were 552 men; on the East Coast railway 293; on the Napier-Gisborne line 139, and on the Midland railway 189, while on the Stratford line there were only 129—the lowest of all in New Zealand. He also pointed out that whereas there had been 1«9 on the work in September last, the number had been reduced to 150 in October and to 129 at the present time. Mr. \fasters added that the progress of the j district was bound up in 'the pushing on | of the railway. Mr. Massey had stated I that the Main Trunk railway was carryI ing to full capacity. The"re was an opportunity of relieving that congestion by opening up the Stratford Main Trunk railway, because it would carry the trade between New Plymouth and Wanganui through to the north. The speaker urged that a move should be made in the direction of having the line opened in five years, as suggested by Mr. McVilly. 'The Mayor (Mr. J. W. McMillan) suggested passing a resolution urging the Government to speed up the work. PAY TOO SMALL. Mr. H. Abraham said that much greater progress was being made from Okahukura towards Ohura than from this end of the line. The east end was now at' Mtrtiere, «aly ten Oi]«? from Ohjls|| ftsg

it seemed that the object was to get Auckland and Ohura connected early, the interests at this end being neglected. Mr. Kiruwood moved that the Government be urged to push on with the Stratford-Okahukura railway with the least possible delay. He referred to the 'efforts made by the Mayor and himself in endeavoring to persuade the Minister of Public Works to pay the standard wage, pointing out that while laborers earn 15s or 10s a day elsewhere, it would be impossible to induce them to take up railway work at 12s per day. Sir William Eraser hu,d raised the argument that this | would be competing with private intereats, but the speaker was of the opinion | that until the Public Works Department was prepared to pay standard 1 wages, they were not going to get the work done. The League had not obj jeetcd to the expedition in which the work was being carried on at the other end, but contended that the work at this end should be pushed on at a reasonable rate, as at the present rate it would take I another twenty years to complete. The opening up of the eastern country would benefit the whole province, and it might be advisable to send a deputation to | Wellington regarding the matter. Mr. Abraham, iu seconding the resolution, remarked that last year about 10,000 fat sheep and 2000 head of cattle were exported from the Okura district, and if the line was forced through from the other end it would mean that all this [ stock would go to Auckland. Ohura was eighty miles closer to New Plymouth than to Auckland, and the Ohura trade f would be one of the greatest assets of Taranaki, yet they were on danger of losing it.

FIVE YEARS' TASK. Mr. jr. B. Richards, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, expressed the opinion that the work should be carried out in five years, which was the time Mr. McVilly had said it could be completed in. Mr. Masters pointed out that there were 78 men on the Ohura end of the line, as against only 54 at this end. He expressed himself as being in entire accord with Mr. Abraham in regard to the possibilities of the Ohura district, and agreed that that great -benefit would be lost to Taranaki if the province did not keep alive to the situation. The Freezing Company and Borthwick's had both approached him, asking that every endeavor be made to push the line ahead. From the point of view of dairying, and of building also, the opening of the line was of great importance. Regarding the wages question, he hoped to see this difficulty rectiiied shortly. Under the conditions the men worked, it was not surprising that more labor could not be obtained. Wages should be increased and the conditions improved if labor was to be obtained more easily. Mr. Masters urged that the people should get behind the movement on the same lines as the Auckland Railway League. The opening of the Ohura country, and the bringing of the exports through Stratford to New Plymouth harbor, and importing through New Plymouth, would be of benefit to all concerned. The motion was then carried unanimously. *