THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1913. MASTERTON TO WAIPUKURAU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 9 May 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1913. MASTERTON TO WAIPUKURAU.

It is so rarely that wo find ourselves in agreement with the sentiments expressed by tlie New Zealand Times, tha* it aomes as a special delight to bo afforded the opportunity of congratulating our contemporary upon the whole-hearted manner in which it has taken up the project of opening up the East Coast lands by means of railways. . For years pa*>t we have ourselves been urging, in season and out of season, the national benefits that would accruo from the construction of a railway from Masterton to Waipukurau. Two years ago, after publishing a lengthy letter on the subject from Mr Coleman Phillips, wo suggested as a practicabla scheme the construction of a line fi-om Marfcinborough right along the East Coast, connecting witk a branch lin« Irani Masterton somewfcere i* the neighbourhood of Tmui, passing along th« «astern sida of the Paketois, a' ? juuctiflniiijjf

with the lino at Waipukurau. It appeared to us that such a lino would be of immense valuo to the Dominion. It would opon up a million or more acres of fertile country at present only partiauy doveloped. It would be a direct continuation of the East Coast railway from Napier to Gisborne. It would bring a vast expanse of almost waste territory into close touch with Wellington and Napier, and would give an impetus to trade in those two centres, and in the intervening townships, whicn would lie remarkable. A correspondent of the j.\ r ow Zealand Times, whoso letter we publish in another column, gives an emphatic endorsement to this proposal, and suggests a method by which the project could be undertaken' without the Government being required to .go upon tho money market, 'ino financial details do not concern us, in the meantime, so much as the awakening of thr commercial interests 1 * in Wellington and Napier to the absolute importance of a scheme to develop the JCasi Cpast territory. Tho New Zealand Times, dealing with the subject, says:—

"We can learn much to our business advantage by studying and imitating the hustling methods which have been adopted by Auckland, and which are doing so much for the commercial expansion of that city. Ihe people of the northern metropolis, by dint of constant and persistent activity and agitation, are pushing on their main lines of railways, and, at the same moment, promoting arterial lines, with a view lo closer and still closer settlement. So far, they have received extraordinary consideration' from the Government, and meanwhile Wellington has remained content with her two lines, which have not by any means served to open and develop'her widet extent of back country. There (has been a certain amount of agi Ration already in the direction ci a railway from ftfastertort to Woipukurau, which lias not received the support from Wellington that the importance of the scheme merits, but it is an open question now, in vit-w of the thoughtful proposition of our correspondent, whether that scheme should not assume a more comprehensive form and embrace the whole question of an East Coast railway running from Wellington tmrough the lower Wairarapa, and taking a wider sweep to its ultimate destination at Waipukurau."

The President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, when approached on the subject, said that sueh a scheme, if carried out, would undoubtedly be of great advantage to Wellington City, and the whole district. Ho also stilted that, from the point of view of the city, it was important that a deviation of the Rimutaka line should be found feasible. This would, of course, be part and parcel of the project, whatever it migkt be. Whether the people along the route of the proposed line should be permitted to tax them-' selves for the construction of the railway, or whether the Government should borrow the money requuvd, are matters for subsequent consideration. The first thing to be is the absolute necessity, from a local as well as national point of view, of the East Coast lands being opened up by means of a railway. An examination of a map of the is land, with the area of country involved, should settle this point in a moment. The next most important question is the route which the line should take. On this matter there will be considerable' divergence of opinion. For ourselves, we would be prepared to submit the question to a Commission of experts. The members of such a Oommission should go over the country affected, procure every bit of available data, take evidence from settlers and others interested, and bring down a comprehensive recommendation, together with an estimate of the probable cost. This being done, the matter of finance could lie dealt with, and we should a/sstune that there would be no serious difficulty in this connection. In the meantime, we are gratified to find that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan newspapers, the city merchants, members of Parliament, and Ministers of the (Jrown are interesting themselves in the matter. The Minister of Public Works is to visit the W T airarapa in the course of a few weeks. He is to be accompanied by representatives of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce and by one. or more members of Parliament. We are confident that the Hon Mi Fraser will not follow the example of bis predecessor in office, and say, "this work cannot be undertaken until your large estate are broken up." Rather will he follow the example that is being set in Australia and elsewhere of assisting to push through important arterial railways in the knowledge tiiat close and profitable settlement will immediately follow. The matter is of vital importance to Wellington, Napier, Masterton and other townships. It is of national as well as local concern. It is far removed from party or parish considerations. For these reasons, we hope to see an enthusiasm awakened which will result in immediate and effective action being taken.