THE STRATFORD MAIN TRUNK.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1920, Page 5

THE STRATFORD MAIN TRUNK.

REPLY TO MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS. Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, chairman of the Stratford Railway League, writes:In reply to Messrs S. G. Smith, and R. Masters, M.P.'s, the Minister ofPublic Works (Hon. J. G. Coatcs) states "the temporary discontinuance of work at Tahora until some other works are out of hand, will not in his opinion .postpone the date of ultimate connection between Stratford and Okahukura," If the opinion of the Minister for Public Works coincided with facts he would be quite justified in the proposal to stop work at Tahora, but the matter requires very little reflection to clearly demonstrate the utter fallacy of the Minister's contention. Mr. Coates admits that the heavy work at Tahora will take from eight to ten years to complete, and it must necessarily follow that any delay with the tunnels and bridges at Tahora will add to the time when the line can be connected up. The Minister is on safe ground in his contention that progress with the line from tho Ohura end will 9erve a considerable number of settlers, while construction will be comparatively easy, and if the line was one of minor importance only, progress might reasonably be held up on the western end. It is not necessary at this stage to prove the importance of the Stratford-Okahuknra railways its importance to the welfare of the whole Dominion is recognised inside and outside Parliament, and any delay in completing the line can only be one of fanciful expediency, political or otherwise. Mr. Coatcs can be given credit for being perfectly frank as to how long he intends holding the work up at Tahora. He states that work is to be stopped at Tahora until other lines are out of hand, the other lines referred to being- North Auckland Main Trunk.East Coast railway, and Midland Main Trunk. Is there anyone in this province who has the temerity jo venture an opinion as to when the three stated lines will be completed? However, Mr Coates has made it clear that he proposes to complete these lines first, and that it will take from eight to ten years after, before the Tarfinaki-Main Trunk line can be linked up. The position as it now stands is that we nro told that Taranaki-Auckland railway will not be completed for many years to come, while already twenty years have passed in carrying the line to Tahora and con-i-t.rncting about fifteen miles on the Ohura end. It is manifest on the face of things that Taranaki will have to exert its whole energy to get justice.'