EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 148, 22 June 1917, Page 7

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

PARLIAMENTARY MEMBERS APPROACHED. TAURANGA DEPUTATION. A deputation from Tauranga yesterday made representations at the conference of the Auckland Railways League and members of Parliament, with regard to the necessity for the completion of the railway line laid near the Bay of Plenty centre, and to being made avail able as a publii facility by the erection of the long-mooted bridge to traverse a part of the Tauranga Harbour. Mr. Adams said the Tauranga deputation fully appreciated considerations of [war conditions, but there were certain I enterprises that should proceed in any case, because they were necessary. If there was a necessity for suspending expenditure on public works Tauransa would bow to the inevitable, but if public men in a position to Judge—and there were many who did consider the railway works should lie carried on —then the North Island wanted it« rightful share. It was seven years since the Tauranga railway line was laid, and so far it had not benefited the town, which had prepared for it iiy extensive municipal works at a cost'of up to CoT.OOO. Very little had l-ceii or was being done, and the line finished across the harbour, from where the goods >vcre carried by launch. The people desire.l the Government to keep faith with them. Till-: CLAIMS OUTLINED. Colonel Ward, who received a hearty reception, said he was eorry to be there not to proclaim progress, but to complain that progress hail been sopped and disregarded for the fulfilment of the system of railways on the Kast Coast to complete the system that Mould link up with the main lines, and would have been such an advantage to a tine district ami to the country as a whole. With an experience as a civil engineer, he spoke v. i;h a due sense of his responsibility in j putting these matters before the members of Parliament. The policy of the tlovernment was apparently "no more supplies." The intermediate stump line from Tauranga to Waihi was started seven years ago. but no rails had been laid. At Tauranga the railway was started three miles away across the liarMMir. to run down the coast, but no effort had been ina.le to join up across the harbour Despite {rrants the work had not proceeded. The price of steel was reported to bo the cause of the bridge not being erected, a little preliminary work only being done. Knowing the enormous effects of the war on iron and steel, and the scarcity and high price of iron, tin- people did not hope to get such a bridge in five years. It was unthinkable that one of the most profitable railway line., that could be undertaken could be held up for that reason. What he desired to point out was that there was plenty of good timber in this country for tiic purpose, and if the Department took the matter seriously in hand a bridge at one-third the cost of tbe structure advocated could he erected in two years. I'tilL-ing the resources of the country, labour and the bush-felling industry, the work could be accomplished and a moot valuable, necessary, and indispensable railway completed, reaching tht- metropolis „f the Bay of Tlcnty. One and a half miles of railway was all that was required to .be done once the bridge iva-3 completed, it was not a case of asking for 2-~> miles of line, and the completion of the line would mean the saving of a lot of public money. The bridge would cost certainly not more than C-2.~i.iKK), and he believed personally coul.l U- erected for £20.000. A bridge of the kind Would have a life of 3.") years, a period during which it would make a good business proposition to the Government with the railway connection established. If the bridge was erected both lines could be facilitated, and by the time our Ijovs returned and hosts of immigrant* arrived the rich districts concerned would offer great, attractions for settlement and serve to enhance the wealth of the country generally. (Applause.) Mr. N'orris said the opening of the railways in the Kast Coast was the most important work that could be complete.l by the Public Works Department in NewZealand. The Kast I oast h.nl larger ana-, of 'iivt and a better class of second class land than any other part of New Zealand—even of Canterbury—and very little waste hind. It was computed that the hast Coast would carry an er.tra quarter of a million of a population. It was computed that every 50 acres would carry five of a family, and every fifty in the country meant one hundred in'tlie town. A district like the Hay of Plenty would be a greater asset to the country with the facilities it deserved. He was preparing some facts and figures to be put forward alien the Tauranga petition iv this matter would be presented to the Government. If pushed on the Kast Coast railway would provide a sinking fund and pay the interest on the wa"r loan.

Mr. Donaldson (Waihf) asked why it was that the great East Coast railway should l>c the last to receive the support of tiie House, and if anything transpired to suspuend works it should be the first wm 1 .. to lie stopped. (Laughter.l He thought it might lie the modesty of the Northern M.P.'s that accounted for the votes going in preponderance to the South Island. (Laughter.) The speaker ridiculed tiie Ministerial excuse that because a certain -ngineer went abroad retain works had to stop. The Minister ..f Public -A'orks said at Tauranga that it wm no use constructing the bridge at Tauranga until a connection was made at W'iiihi. and at the latter place In- said if was no U.-.0 continuing the work until the Tauranga bridge .was erected. No material relief from the lack of railway facilities could be secured on the East Coast until the bridge was built at Tauranga. PAEROA-POKENO LINE. Mr. Grace spoke of the necessity of the Paeroa-Pokeno line being proceeded with to open up the Hauraki Plains, to shorten the distance by rail to Auckland by 40 miles. Mr. Mueller also said this stretch of country required a railway line which should be authorised, so that when the country was able to go in for more ex tensive works that t-mall section could be put in hand. New Zealand was to the tore during the war, and ehe would be also to the fore after the war, and it would be wise to prepare facilities and open up the country in readiness. The M.P.'s present promise! to do their utmost for the East Coast people, and to bring under the notice of Cabinet the desirability of the Tauranga bridge being erected in timber, if necessary, in order to complete the necessary railway facilities that the residents requester!.