STRATFORD RAILWAY.
A PLEA FROM TARANAK!. MR. COATES' REPLY. WILL COST OVER A MILLION. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. i Kvery local body in Taranaki was represented on a deputation which waited upon the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works to urge the completion of the TaranakiAuckland railway by connection of the , 34-mile gap between Stratford and Okahukura. Mr. Gordon Fraser, president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, asked Mr. Massey not to visualise the line ac one slowly wandering out into the wilderness for twentyfive years past with the idea of connecting Stratford and Okahukura, but rather to visualise the tilling of the 34-mile gap which separated the prosoperous provinces of Taranaki and Auckland. They wanted to convert this homeless, moneysucking outcast of the railway family into a payable railway. Mr. Arthur Morton, on behalf of the North Taranaki dairy industry, stressed the inconvenience of travelling to Auckland via Marton or by boat. The dairy industry was handicapped by having to bring by a circuitous route the coal and timber it required. Mr. J. B. Murdoch said from 12,000 to 15,000 tons of Waikato coal were used annually in the industry in Taranaki, while 0000 tons of timber for butter and cheese boxes were utilised. Other speakers supported the requests. Mr. Coates (Minister of Public Works) said that £447,000 had been spent up to June last on the western end of the line, and another £100,000 would complete it to Ohura. After that the cost of completion would be a million pounds. Mr. Massey: A m illion! Mr. Coatea added there was very heavy tunnelling to be done. There were already about 200 men working at the other end, but he could not say anything in regard to expediting the work, as that depended upon other works in hand. However, the railway was necessary, and must take its order of completion. It was one of the most important lines. As the Department had an excess of 600 men, that surplus would help to speed up the work on the two pieces of line, which would make it possible to put more men on to the Taranaki-Auck-land line. The first acceleration would take place from Ohura towards Tahora. Meanwhile the roads were being prepared for the tunnels, which would extend 3J miles, so that the last £000,000 or £700,000 worth would be carried through quickly. I am not in a position to make any promise, said Mr. Massey, as to when this line will be completed, and neither is the Minister of Works, but we cannot sit down and allow that gap to remain. It has got to be proceeded with, but I do not know when we will be able to bring the policy of concentration to , bear upon it and get it finished. It is a matter of finance, and at present we have even more urgent purposes to finance in the way of construction. Applications at the rate of a million a month are coining in. If I complied with all the requests we would have to close down the Public Works, because there would be no money. I think, however, the difficulty will be removed in the course of a few months, as the pressure will be easier.
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Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 7
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545STRATFORD RAILWAY. Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 7
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