OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1920, Page 5

OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

SMALL CONTRACTS StiGQESTfeU' OFFER TO SUPPLY LABOfc ,: The need for the early completion of < tho Te Roti-Opunake railway »M stressed by speakers at the meeting, of tho Egmont County Council yestajraajr- ' Cr. O'Brien, who brought the rattler , forward, said that It was essential that the railway should be pushed on fjjna ? Te Roti to Opunako as early as possible, ■ and later it could be continued along easy country to Rahotu, Pungartbu, and' Okato. He did not think it wotlld be possible to take the railway to Motu- ' ' roa as the country was too rough. He ' pointed out that it was nearly 50 yajr* since the railway was first mooted, snd if the people of the district kejlt qjtfet they would, never get the railway. He understood that labor would be m*r» * plentiful this year, and he thought if the Government were to let the work in small contracts, on the co-operative system, that settlers could be got to carry them out. He moved that the Government be requested to pfeae a sufficient sum of money at thfl jjtffHM of the Government engineer for the construction of the railway line from J» Roti to Opunake, and that the Ooufl|ril . co-operate with the Government in Hiding labor to construct the line on tjke email contract system. Or. Campbell seconded. Cr. Wright thought they were tto late, as the Hon. J. O. Cofctts had told them he was only going to push *B with main lines. Cr. Young considered that it was mote important to- carry the line on to Mow*. roa. That was more important thjta Te Roti, being their nearest way to tfto port. The country between Opunftle and New Plymouth was not very difccult for construction, and the route h£6V already been surveyed, All effort-) AaJM bo made to get the line right round the mountain. Cr. O'Brien held that his motion d)dr not prejudice Moturoa at all, as whtft complete to Opunako the line could &a carried on to New Plymouth. / The resolution was carried.