THE WAIAU RAILWAY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 147, 28 July 1914, Page 8

THE WAIAU RAILWAY.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

WORK TO BE PUSHED QN.

JTrom our own Parliamentary Beporter.J WELLINGTON, July 28. A deputation, representing the Waiatt Railway League, introduced by Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., waited on -the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. Fraser) to-day. The deputation consisted of Messrs K. Pettigrew (president), I. Rinaldi, and J. Netting. Three Canterbury members, Messrs L. M. Isitt, G. Witty, and W. J. Dickie, also attended.

The deputation requested that more dispatch be used in the construction of the line. Last year £SOOO was voted, but the work done so far could be covered by £IOO. The farmers of the district had hoped that next autumn they would be able to get grain railed from Botheram, but there was no hope of the line being constructed to this point now, and they would have to wait another year. If the line were finished , it would open up great tracts of agricultural country, and land would be used for grain growing which is now devoted to sheep.

ME FRASER'S REPLY. The Minister promised that the work would be pushed, on. The vote of £9OOO was only a preliminary vote, and much larger sums would be spent, in order to have the line completed as soon as possible. He recognised the importance of the district, and was glad to see the enthusiasm of the settlers. He would allow no dawdling by contractors, and would " see that they pushed on their work. The amount to be voted would depend to some extent on the state of the money market, but it would at least be substantial enough, to make for real progress with the work.