RIMUTAKA RAILWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1938, Page 5

RIMUTAKA RAILWAY

THE BUGBEAR OF DESUNITY. (To the Editor.) Sir,—As one intensely interested in the history of our Wairarapa railway since first seeing it, on its maiden through-trip from Wellington to Masterton, pass over part of our old family orchard plot at the top-end of Cornwall Street —not forgetting the great railway picnic later held at Pigeon Bush to celebrate the event —I fail to understand the attitude of those who call the latest tunnelling scheme a ‘‘political” gesture, just as if the whole history of the Rimutaka railway, from its inception to its completion, was ever anything else. From a rather long and interesting incursion into its genesis as far as oldtime “Hansard” reports go, it would seem that the chief advocate of the “Lakeside” route —the late Edward Jerningham Wakefield —was not altogether blameless in so far as his not being present at the final division of forces which, in its narrow “political” outlook could but rejoice in foisting on Wairarapa settlement an insuperable barrier for generations to come —a poor sort of “political gift” if ever there was one. Those Mastertonians who took part in that memorable “march on Parliament” when the late Hon. W. F. Massey, our then Premier, emulated ■ the usual Parliamentary “bluff” of keeping the matter of more speedy communication between the Wairarapa and • its nearest port “steadily in view” —and, since when, it has been kept “more and more” steadily in view—can but say “hats off” to the man who, in this direction and others, is really a man who “gets things done.” As one of the most persistent advocates of a better and more speedy access to our Empire city, and its consequent increasing benefits as regards stimulating a hitherto stationary if not decreasing district population, our worthy Mayor (Mr Thos. Jordan) is also to be complimented upon his share in achieving so desirable an end to his own long civic campaign, at the hands of the popular Premier he is about —on our united behalf —to publicly receive, and to acclaim —and, to whom might well apply (as a tireless servant of the New Zealand public) the sentiments so well expressed in the following slightly-paraphrased lines:— “Wherever you are, and wherever you go, May the beautiful palms of Allah grow; Through long days of labour and sweet hours of rest, May the love of good Allah make you blest; So, we touch our hearts, as the Easterns do, ‘May the Peace of Allah abide with you.’ ” • Thanking you for occasional trespass upon your valuable space as regards semi-historical events—l am, etc., N.J.B. Masterton, June 15.