POKENO TO PAEROA.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 33, 8 February 1929, Page 9

POKENO TO PAEROA.

" ESSENTIAL RAILWAY LINK." EARLY CONSTRUCTION URGED. The movement to have the construction of the Paeroa-Pokeno railway line started as soon as possible was given a fillip at a meeting of the Auckland Railways League held in the Chamber of Commerce rooms yesterday afternoon. Mr. P. E. Cheal (president) was chairman, and among those present were representatives of the Pokeno Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by Mr. A. W. Hall, M.P. for Hauraki. It was re'solved to urge upon the Government the desirability of starting work on the line at an early date. The league decided to bring under the Government's notice the rapid increase in traffic on the Auckland railway system. There is additional traffic owing to the recent connection of the Bay of Plenty line, and it is feared that serious congestion on the Auckland-Frankton section will result. In order to minimise haulage of traffic to and from the East Coast line, via Paeroa, the Paero-Pokeno line, authorised in 1919, should be proceeded with immediately, in the opinion of the league. Work on this line would help to absorb the unemployed. The line would save 47 miles and up to two hours in time from Auckland to Paeroa, and all stations between Thames and Taneatua would benefit. Nineteen miles would be saved on the journey to Te Aroha. When the Minister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom) and Minister of Lands (Hon. G. W. Forbes) visit the locality later in the month a deputation representing the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, various local bodies and the Auckland Railways League will advocate the early completion of the PaeroaPokeno cut-off. Arrangements were made at yesterday's meeting for the distribution of a bulletin, issued by the league, setting out reasons why the line should be put in hand.