THE STRATFORD-OKAHUKURA LINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1920, Page 4

THE STRATFORD-OKAHUKURA LINE.

The position with regard to the stoppage of the construction work of the Stratford-Okahukura railway at Tahora is causing grave- concern in Taranaki, ami recently the chairman of the Stratford Railway League wrote to the Auckland League and expressed a desire that a strong protest should be made by that body against the proposed stoppage. There is no .doubt, that if the Auckland League were to comply with this request and advocate a vigorous construction policy at both ends of the line it would go far towards causing the Minister io reconsider his decision to suspend operations at Tahora, Tt is possible that Taranaki's attitude with regard to this work/ is not clearly understood by the members of the Auckland League, and the action of the member for Waitomo in advocating work on the Ohura .section giving a junction with the main line may have complicated the position of affairs. Nothing could be plainer than Taranaki's attitude on this important matter—the prosecution with all possible vigor of the construction works both from the Ohura to the Main Trunk line, and from the Tahora to the Ohura. The one aim is to get the line completed so as to join up Taranaki with Auckland at the earliest possible moment. Taranaki people have no ulterior motive in pressing their claim for carrying on thework beyond Tahora, nor is there any questiqn, so far as they are ■concerned, of provincial jealousy. . They are just as anxious for the work to be expedited at the Ohura end as at the Taranaki end, and those Ohura residents who understand Taranaki's attitude in this matter are quite in accord therewith. Unfortunately political influence is not an unknown factor in these matters, | but we give the Auckland people credit for being desirous to advocate the greatest good for the largest number, and feel sure that when thev fully understand that Taranaki is" animated solely by that same desire and not by selfish motives, they will lend their powerful influence to support the urgent plea that vigorous progress shall be made at both ends so that the line mav , be fini9hed within a reasonable time