The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 346, 27 September 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1898.

The agitations as to the route the Main Trunk line should are still in progress. On Saturday night a mass meeting was held in Auckland, and a resolution passed threatening all members who do not support the Stratford route with political extinction when the next election comes round. A meeting of Auckland <md Taranaki members was held yesterday in Wellington, and as will be seen by a telegram in another column, eleven votes were recorded in favour of the Stratford route, and six for the Central. If the names of those who voted for the Stratford route are scanned, a fair inference may be drawn that the threats held forth at the mass meeting have borne fruit. It must also be noted that those members who voted for the Central route were prepared to support the Stratford, rather than that all progress should be delayed. On the contrary the supporters of the Stratford route practically took up the position that they would have that or none. Those who have taken up this position are none of them professional men, and with one or two exceptions have not seen the country. On the other hand, not a single engineer has reported in favour of carrying the railway through Stratford. The cost Avould unquestionably be much higher —this is not disputed—and the distance greater. In addition, the Central route would open up the interior of the island to a much greater extent than the other proposed. The reports of the engineers who have surveyed the Central line go to show that although the railway would pass over some very poor couutry, there is good land on either side of the proposed line at no great distance. It may be asked why, then, was it not planned to run through this good land. The answer to this is that the engineering difficulties are too great. To us it appears of the first importance that direct communication with Wellington should be established by the shortest and least expensive route. The Auckland people have a legitimate claim that this should be done, but they have no claim that a kr«er expenditure than necesssry should be incurred by the colony for the promotion of local interests. It would be unreasonable to expect that the members representing the rest of the colony will consent to more being spent than is necessary; consequently if the Auckland representatives insist upon the Stratford route the railway will not be completed, or it will be constructed by the rival route in spite of them. We incline to the belief that the result will be, as hitherto—no progress whatever will be made. It is to us clear that the most judicious course for the Auckland and Taranaki members to pursue is to consent to the Central route and bargain for good roads from Te Kuiti to Mokau and through the Ohura Valley to Stratford. In the meantime they should bring all possible pressure upon the Government to sell the lands they have acquired in the King Country, the funds which accrue to be devoted to making the roads we propose. It must bo borne in mind that special legislation is necessary to change the route of railway, and that it is in the highest degree improbable that either this or any future Parliament will consent tw such a Jsill for the reasons we have given above.