EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 6

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

A WHAEATAJTB MOVEMENT. ROTORiUA CONNECTION WANTED. DEPUTATION TO AUCKLAND LEAGUE. A movement has lieen started in the Wlmkatane and neighbouring districts to agitate for the immediate construction of a tine from Opotiki, running towards Pacngaroa and from thence, connecting with Rotorua. and the postponement of the expenditure of any further money on the linking-up line between Auckland and Tatiranga via "Waihi. As representing the YVbakatane Clramber of Commerce, Mr. Clay, an ex-chairman of the local County Council, waited on Mr. G. L. Peaeocke. president of the Auckland Railway League, yesterday afternoon, to explain the proposal, and to ascertain if it vvocld have the support of the League.

Mr. Peacocke intimated, in reply, that, as far as lie could see, there was not the slightest chance of the League endorsing the movement. (He pointed out that the genera! question of the route, as between the Waihi-Tauranga and the Rotorua connection*. was threshed out several -years ago. after a vigorous controversy, and settled as far as the Government was concerned in favour of the former. While he was still of the opinion that the -Rotorua connection should lie ultimately established, he thought it would be most injurious to the Auckland to Gisborne line if the controversy over tbe route was seriously reopened. It would tend to create friction amongst those who should stand shoulder to shoulder in support of the speedy linking-up of the Bay of Islands districts with Auckland and the North Island railway system generally. Sir. Peacocke also stressed the point that such disunion might conceivably be made an excuse by the Government, somewhat hampered in its financial resources, to hang up this pressing work altogether for an indefinite time. He further drew attention to the fact that the Rotorua connection would deprive the League of the opportunity to agitate for the construction in the immediate future of the Paeroa-Pokeno loop line, along ■which exists the one chance of shortening the total distance at any point on the East Coast railway route "between Pa.eroa and Gisborne by*44 miles. This., he argued, was a matter affecting the general interests of the country traversed, because with a shortened distance it meant a corresponding decrease in passenger fares and haulage charges for all time.

Mr. Clay undertook to communicate the points' raised by Mr. Peacocke to the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce.