EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 104, 4 May 1929, Page 22

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

THE CLAIMS OF OPOTIKI. DEPUTATION TO WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, this day. At a meeting of the Opotiki Bailwav League it was stated that no further word had been received from the Prime Minister as to when he would be able to meet a deputation in Wellington. As the Minister of Public Works would also have to be present, it would probably be several days before he (Sir Joseph) would be able to take the deputation. Letters were received from the Auckland Warehousemen's Association arid Auckland Chamber of Commerce stating that they were strongly supporting the Opotiki League in its efforts to get the railway extension. Mr. S. Slialfoon contended that the league should send a larger deputation. The chairman, Mr. J. H. Beid, agreed. The deputation should be as strong as possible. It was no use one or two going to Wellington to meet the Ministers and expect them to put up a good fight. I The chairman said probably one argu- | ment that would be put to the deputation was: "Can the line be linked up with the Gisborne line at Motuhora?" Mr. Beid said it could be linked up via Awakino and Whitikau Valleys. He could not see that there were any great engineering difficulties. The chairman stated that when in Tauranga recently he met the Au'ckland Mayor, Mr. Baildon, and Mr. Mackenzie, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board. These gentlemen practically gave an assurance of their support. Mr. Beid said no other district in the North Island was able to beat Opotiki district, Poverty Bay and the Bay of Plenty for sheep and cattle raising, and, given facilities for getting produce away, production would be doubled or trebled.

In connection with the deputation that is to proceed to Wellington, it was decided to ask Mr. B. C. Bobbins (chairman of the Bay of Plenty Development League), Mr. H. R. Hogg (chairman of the Bay of Plenty Power Board and Opotiki Hospital Board) to join the deputation and proceed to Wellington. The deputation now comprises the county chairman, Messrs. J. H. Reid (Mayor), G. S. Moody, Hogg and Robbins (Mayor of Tauranga).