TE ROTI-MOTUROA RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1920, Page 5

TE ROTI-MOTUROA RAILWAY.

THE SMALL CONTRACT SYSTEM! , PROPOSED BY EGMONT COON®* The Te Roti-Moturoa railway and tbi urgent need for pushing the line on to completion at as early a date a» pt#sible, again formed the subject of discussion Jry members of thfe Egmont County Council, who are strongly Apposed to the proposal that the railway should be completed only as far as Manaia. The matter arose out of a circular fetter from the Taranaki Progressiva,, League. In moving that the Council' agree to pay the annual subscription of £lO 10s towards the League, tW ; chairman (Cr- W. R. Wright) spoke appreciatively of the League's aims and objects. It had, he said, done well already. They had got geologists sent . into the Ohura district to report on the* coal, etc., and he thought they would' have the Mt. Egmont quarry opened. Cr. Young objected to the Opunake railway being placed second on the list. He thought there should be no need to send deputations to Wellington to tell the Government what to do. Apparently the Government did not realise how necessary it was that this district should have a railway. He considered that deputations had in the past only put the matter back, and he instanced the question of the change of route. Cr. O'Brien said that if they did not ask the Government for anything they would never get anything. The resolution was then carried. A letter was then read by the chairman for the Minister of Public Works, in reply to u telegram from the Eginont County Council requesting completion of the Te Roti railway to a pay- : ing point at. Opunake The letter stated that die Department was concentrating its efforts on the Te Roti-Manaia ' section, as it was considered that ft was better (policy to concentrate, on i one particular section of the line than I'o spread efforts over a number of sections. The chairman said that the letter agreed with what he had heard three months ago. The Government were also «6ing to push on with the Ohnra railway. After all, he said, ithey could not blame the. Government. It was a . onestion of men and money. Cr. Young said that he blamed the Government for putting the railway to Manaia through four miles of country. The chairman said that if they wished to push on with the line there Was only one of three things to do, either to have the work let in one large con- ' tract, or for the local bodies interested to combine and carry the work out by small contracts or employ coollie labor. He thought they would get sufficient iabor if they got coollie labor, But under the present conditions, when men eould earn up to 30s per day cutting firewood, they would not get them to work for 13s and 15s per day. He also read an extract showing that the Minister of Public Works had stated that he would be prepared to consider the letting of a contract for a railway in the Auckland district to an approved contractor if one were available. Cr. Green said it was always the sam-s cry—no money and no labor. The chairman pointed out that there ivoulil be no more difficulty in carrying out the railway from Opunakt} to Kapuni, than in laying out a road, but unless the people of the district were enthusiastic in their desire to obtain the railway they would never get it- They had shown enthusiasm in raising money* . for various local affairs, and he strongly urged them to back the Council up over this matter. Personally, he was anxious to see the railway pushed through, and • ho did not care whether it was put through by white men or black men. After a little further discussion, Cr. O'Brien moved that they telegraph the Minister of Public Work's and ask if he would concede the same conditions in regard to this railway as had been promised in the Auckland district. The chairman seconded the resolution, which was carried. *