OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1921, Page 6

OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

NEED FOR MORE ACTIVITY, DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. The necessity for the speedy construction of the Te Roti-Opunake railway was again before the Egmont County Council yesterday, when it was decided to send a deputation to Wellington to urge the claims of the line upon the Prime Minister and members of Parliament. The subject was introduced by a letter from Mr. E. Dixon, M.P. for Patea, forwarding a letter from the Minister of Public Works acknowledging receipt of the council’s resolution in regard to sending unemployed to work on the Te Roti line. Cr. Ferguson said that he had been warned a year ago that the £25,000 on the estimates was going to be utilised to lay the rails and sleepers to Manaia, and he found now that that was a fact. Two gangs of men were getting ready to lay the sleepers and rails to Manaia, while a few men were put on formation work on the Opunake side of Kapuni. He expressed strong resentment at this, and considered the County Council would not be doing its duty to the ratepayers if it sat down and took < that without a fight. They had been hoping for 35 or 40 years to get the railway, and were still hoping. Mr. Hickey, chairman of the Opunake Railway League, was getting a strong petition signed, and they should back it up. The chairman said that the railway would go to Manaia in spite of all they might do. Cr. O’Brien said that he did not be-* trudge Manaia its railway. He was sure if the council put the position before Mr. Massey and the Minister of Public Works they would do what was possible to have the formation work [ carried on. He considered the council i should send a deputation to Wellington, las it was a matter that benefited the ’ people throughout the county. He mov- > ed that the chairman, Crs. Ferguson and Green be a deputation to go_ to Wellington and wait on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works. Cr. Tosland seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. The deputation will also present the petition that is now being signed.