MASTERTON TO WAIPUKURAU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10653, 7 June 1912, Page 4

MASTERTON TO WAIPUKURAU.

In the persent unsetlhled state of politics, dit is..hardly wctt-th while discussing the suggestion of the Hon. T. Mackenzie, that a special Soau he ■raised for the purpose of constructing light line--railways as feeders to the present railway system. When the atmosphere is a little cvea-re-i- the subject anight with advantage he reviewed iby Parliament. Meanwhile, thea-e are certain areas of country m the Dominion which are in urgent meed of access to markets. One of these areas is situated 'on, the East Coast, .ibetween j 'Masterton and iWaipukuirau. The necessity for opening up mhis country ;by 'imeans of a railway was admitted by Wie late Mr S'&ddon and by Sir Win. Hall'l-Jones-, hotih of whom visited ;it. Sir Joseph (Ward promised'-.that this would be one of the first lines put' in hand when the Main Trunk .railway was completed. Mr Roderick McKenzie asrserted that there was insufficient settlement to warrant a railway, but his policy is one will not hold ■water. The railway is essential to .the .opening up and .development of tie country. In the discussion of this prbjeati, one* iinportant point has been lost laight of, and that is that the settlers (between Pongaraa and Mast&rton went on the land on the distinct understanding that they would Ibe given .access to the .markets. The (scarcity of metal' has' rendered road communication impossible. It is the duty of 'the country to kesp faith witSi these settlors, and there is .a moral as well as a national ohliga'tion in the '.matter of the Masterton-Waipukurau route. ..'.'•