Necessity for Railway Access.

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 11, 1 July 1919, Page 555

Necessity for Railway Access.

The necessity for constant cultivation and fertilising of the soil made it essential that there should be railway access to it at cheap rates, both for fertilisers and for the needs of the large number of people who must be employed.

Mr. Dalziell said there were three suggested lines of railway for developing the pumice country. First, his company's line, a light railway— has been running for fifteen years from Putaruru to within 20 miles of Taupo. The estimated pre-war cost of completing this line to Taupo was £50,000. Next, there was the Tongariro Company's proposed light railway from Kakahi to Lake Taupo, a distance of 40 miles, the estimated pre-war cost of which was £300,000; and thirdly, a Government line from Eotorua —s6 miles —which was estimated in 1912 to cost £392,000.

It was only by taking a narrow view of the matter that any antagonism could be seen between these lines. They were all necessary, and would be mutually helpful. In 1912 a committee of Parliament, after taking the evidence of settlers and of the chief officers and experts of the Lands, Railway, and Public "Works Departments, found that the Taupo Company's railway would be permanently required for the use of the 70 miles of country it went through, and recommended Parliament to guarantee £50,000, the sum required for its completion to Taupo. This recommendation was given effect to by a statutory authority to levy a rate upon the Crown, native, and private lands in the district, but owing first, to a difficulty with the natives, and then to the Avar, the matter had not been proceeded with.