MASTERTON TO WAIPUKURAU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 14 June 1913, Page 4

MASTERTON TO WAIPUKURAU.

The Napier Chamber of Commerce had before it .this week a request from Waipukurau for support for the proposal to construct a railway between Masterton and Waipukurau. The Chamber appears to have concluded that if this project were undertaken it would prejudice the construction of the line between Napier and Gisborne, and so it decided to urge the Government to complete lines already authorised before making fresh engagements. • We are rather surprised that Napier should take up this attitude in the matter. The construction of a line between Master-ton and Waipukurau is necessary to complete the East Coast main trunk to Gisborne and Auckland. It is as much in the interests of Napier as it ia of Wellington that the lower portion of the East Coast ehould be opened up. The Masterton to Waipukurau line could not possibly prejudice the Napier to Gisborne connection. It would, in fact, hare the very reverse effect, for those interest* ed in the lower portion of the line wpuld combine with Napier in urging the completion of the whole railway. Napier cannot expect the sympathy and assistance of ' the southern portion of the Wellington province if it refuses to assist those who are crying aloud for access to the markets.