EAST COAST RAILWAY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10685, 3 August 1912, Page 5

EAST COAST RAILWAY

THE RECENT CONFERENCE. The Eketahuna Express says: — The result of the conference at Masterton last evening regarding the proposed laop line was disappointing in the extreme. There was distinct unanimity of opinion upon the necesvsity for such a railway, but it was upon the matter of routes that tlie trouble commenced. Advocates of these, of course, put a word in, commencing with Mr Coleman Phillips, who advocated practically a duplication of the present line along the coast from Hawke's Bay to Wellington, and followed by Whakataki, Tinui, and other advocates. The end of this was that Masterton-Waipukurau was decided upon, but only, against strong opposition on the part of a number of delegates who recognised that the introduction of the route controversy would-be fatal. In the northern end of thod:yt';-jct('PahiaJua and upwards) the project will be fought tooth and nail, and in this Palmerston North will no doubt assist. Thus it is apparent that it was necessary to secure the utmost rnTriWii'-itlra at ■flrV; end in order to give sufficient weight,to push the loop line. This combination the meeting last night resolved to dispense with. Masterton, with the settlers along the proposed route is left to push the matter, and it is a certainty that weight will be insufficient. The terms of the resolution will have to be altered very considerably before the general support necessary will be forthcoming."