RAILWAY POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1921, Page 7

RAILWAY POLICY.

THE STRATFORD-OKAHUKURA LINE DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. DECISION ADHERED TO. Among the questions discussed with the Minister of Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) by the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce delegates during his stay in New Plymouth, on Saturday, was the decision recently made by the Minister to cease work at the west end of the Stratford-Okahukura railway. Mr. T. C. List said the Chamber desired to associate itself most strongly with the views placed before the Minister at Stratford by the deputation of local bodies the night before. He assured Mr. Coates that any stoppage of work on the line would cause dismay in Taranaki. “We regard it as the most important railway work in New Zealand,” said the speaker. Mr. Coates: What line would you stop in favor of this one? Mr. List: Every other line in the North Island, and this is the unanimous view of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and it is my own view, after having been over the routes of the East Coast and North Auckland lines, which you have given precedence over the Taranaki work. It is the most important railway in our view, and, though naturally we have a bias in favor of anything that pertains to our province, yet we have also the welfare of the whole of New Zealand at heart, and our firm conviction is that the line should be connected with the Main Trunk as soon as possible.” The speaker pointed out that the Department had already spent huge sums of money on the line, and until it was through they would not get a full return for the expenditure. They were not giving the people of that district the communication which had been promised twenty years ago. Mr. Coates: We are giving the Ohura people access much better than they could get it the other way. ACCESS TO COAL FIELD. Mr List painted out that this was not benefiting the people on the west side of the Tangarakau gorge, and the present service, which was very inadequate, would not improve till the line was through. He urged that the Minister prosecute the work with the utmost vigor, because of the delay that must inevitably take place in a line such as this one, with a large amount of tunnelling to be done. The line would also open up a coalfield, which would be of great benefit to Taranaki, especially to the dairy companies. The North Auckland and East Coast districts had their communications by sea, having convenient harbors, but the people in the back districts had no outlet for many months of the year. He expressed the hope that the Minister would reconsider his decision, and at least go on with boring the tunnels at the Tahora end. In supporting the previous speaker, Mr. Newton King said that though the Minister intended giving the settlers connection with the northern end, it was one hundred miles further to Auckland from Ohura than to the port at New Plymouth. The whole of Ohura was really a part of Taranaki, and should be linked up as quickly as possible, as was promised by the late Mr. Seddon years ago. The Minister’s announcement of the stoppage of the work had caused deep disappointment in the province. Mr Coates: I quite understand the feeling in Taranaki. The importance of the Te Roti-Motu-roa line was stressed by Mr. P. E. Stainton. While appreciating the difficulties which the Minister was up against, he said they felt that some progress ought to be made on the line, and they desired to urge its claims without pressing it before the Stratford Main Trunk line, which was a prime necessity to Taranaki and the Dominion as a whole. THE MINISTER IN REPLY. In reply, the Hon. Mr. Coates said he was pleased to have the opportunity of hearing the views on the subject. He believed, however, that his point of view was the correct one. In regard to outlets, Taranaki, in comparison with some other parts of New Zealand, was much better off. It had been contended that the line was much more important than the East Coast railway, but considered from the amount of new country that was to be opened up by the two lines respectively, he could not agree with this view. The Department had less machinery and labor than was required, and they had to decide how best to use what was available. The question was a business one. Some people had taken advantage of his position as an Auckland member to charge him with favoring the northern line, but the thirteen miles to be done there would connect up 121 miles of line, the completion of which had been pledged. The district had harbors, but anyone who had lived there must know that it could not be said the boat service had ever been satisfactory. The completion of the Auckland line was of very great importance in opening up large areas of undeveloped country, and was more necessary than any work which could be done by 50 or 60 men on the Tahora section of the Stratford railway. He hoped that the cessation on the. latter section would be only temporary, and they had decided it would be far better to transfer the men on the Tahora end to the eastern section, where the work of constructing the line as far as Ohura could be pushed on. It, of course, did not connect Taranaki with Ohura, but the speaker asked, Was he to consider provincial interests? He had decided, after careful thought, that the only way in which the Department could put through lines in an expeditious manner was by concentration of the available men on certain works. He was confident they would be able to show the deputation and New Zealand that they could complete the work better this way than by dissipating their energies over a wide field. In regard to the Te Roti-Moturoa line, Mr. Coates said the Department aimed at getting the section completed to Manaia, and the whole route would be laid off in sections. Towards the end of the work at one point the next section would be got ready. It did not look as if costs were going to be so great, as the worlds markets were falling axi4

there was no advantage to be gained by rushing matters At the conclusion, Mr. 18. G. Smith, M.P., who had introduced the various speakers, expressed appreciation of the full and straight reply given by the Minister. He reminded Mr. Coates, however, that the people of Taranaki would continue to be persistent in putting forward their claims for what they considered was for the best interests of all.