STRATFORD-OKAHUKURA LINE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1920, Page 5

STRATFORD-OKAHUKURA LINE

THE APPROPRIATIONS. LETTER FROM MR. MASSEY. The interests of Taranaki in the earliest completion of the Ktratford-Okahu-kura railway are so extensive that every step taken towards this consummation to be desired deserves the iullest publicity and commendation, states the Stratford Post. That Stratford is alive to the matter was recently in evidence at a meeting of her citizens in the Town Hail three weeks ago, when a protest at the delay in the construction of the line was recorded, and a resolution urging the Government to push on with the work was carried unanimously. At that meeting Mr. R. Masters supplied figures relative to the want of progress on this particular line, the comparisons cited with others in course of construction being most unfavorable. He was strongly supported by the Mayor and other leading public men of Stratford, and the resolution subsequently conveyed to the Prime Minister as Minister of Railways. In replying to a latter dated 9th March, Mv.

Massey said: "I have now to inform yon tliat the appropriation for the east end of the Stanford main, railway line last session was £30,000. Of this £2[),o<iS had been actually expended up to the end of January, 1920, and further authorities issued up to £7,320, making the expenditure and commitments £3(1,394. "In regard to the west end the appropriation was £20,000. The expenditure to the end of January, 1920, was £9,027, and further authorities were issued for £3,783, or a total of expenditure and commitments of £12,810. You will thus see that on the whole line the Minister of Public Works has expended during ten months of this financial year £38,095 out of 'the £50,000 on the Appropriations, and at the same rate for the months of February and March there will have been actually expended by the end of the financial year £40,000, nnd possibly £47,000 out of the £50,000 appropriated. "Where, may I ask, is tha evidence of the implied neglect of this lflie? It is true that the greater portion of the expenditure has been on the east end. That is owing to the large tunnel there which is undoubtedly the most important part of the whole work. Considering the difficulty in procuring labor, surely further comment it unnecessary."