GISBORNE RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 4, 6 January 1931, Page 8

GISBORNE RAILWAY.

PROTEST AGAINST STOPPAGE.

"PROMISED FOR 40 YEARS."

TALK OF "POLITICAL TRICKERY."

I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Monday. A large, representative and most enthusiastic meeting of residents of Gisborne and Poverty Bay was held this evening to protest against the Government's decision to cease work on the Gisborne-Waikokopu section of the Gis-borne-Napier railway. There was an attendance of over 800, and large numbers were unable to gain admission to the ltftlL The speakers represented all shades of public opinion, and the Government's action was unanimously condemned. The speakers included the Mayor of Gisborne, Mr. D. W. Coleman, Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., Mr. T. Corson, former chairman of the Reform party in Gisborne, Mr. H. ; de Lautour, a candidate at the next election, prominent farmers and. members of local bodies. Th.e following resolution was passed unanimously: — "Thai this meeting of citizens of Gisborne and residents of Poverty. Bay. protests against the stoppageof the railway to Gisborne, as it is against the interests .of, not only this district, but of the Dominion as a whole, and the meeting accords wholehearted support' to the delegation which is to wait on .the Cabinet." "A Severe Injustice." The Mayor, who presided, expressed gratification at such a large attendance of the public which, he said, recognised that Poverty Bay and Gisborne' were I suffering a severe injustice. Of a total length of railway of about 153 miles, between Napier and Gisborne, there remained less than-20 miles at the Gisborne end to be constructed to give access to Gisborne, and to connect the rich district of Poverty Bay with the railway system of the North Island. For nearly 40 years .railway access had been promised to Gisborne. It was now 31' years since the '• first sod had been turned by the late Sir Joseph

Ward, who then expressed the hope that Gisborne's isolation would soon be over. After careful investigation by Government officers the coastal route was chosen by Sir Joseph Ward two years ago. It was the one that would 'pay best and give the quickest access to Gisborne. Sir Joseph had decided to finish the line with no further delay. The Mayor -said the figures upon whigh the Government relied to justify the stoppage were hopelessly inaccurate and. misleading, being apparently based on the earnings of the Paeroa-Tauranga line, a most unjust and unfair comparison. The estimates of revenue supplied from Gisborne would almost certainly be vastly exceeded in years to come, even as traffic through the Otira Tunnel had increased far beyond expectations. "Very Grave Mistake." Mr. Lysnar dealt with the subject from the Dominion viewpoint. He said he was at a total loss to know any ground for stopping the line. It was wicked and wrong to the district, and to the Dominion as a whole. The stoppage was either for financial or political reasons. The acting-Prime Minister, however, promised to find other work for the men, hence, apparently, the reason was not financial. He greatly regretted that" railway construction had been made a political question. The evidence produced by the Government officials showed clearly that they ■ made no examination; but based their figures on the Tauranga line. He was in the committee room at the House when the accountant told the committee that too much importance should not be attached to the estimates, as they were based on the earnings of the Tauranga line. At Auckland there had recently been opened a new railway station which cost £2,000,000, and which would not produce one shilling in revenue, yet the Government cavilled at £1,000,000 on the Gisborne line, a work which would produce a substantial revenue. . It was not playing the game. Within the past three or four years Parliament . ha'd granted authority for the expenditure of £7,500,000 on non-productive works in connection with the Auckland and Wellington railway stations and deviations, also railway works at Petone/" Mr. C. E. Bickford quoted the speeches of Ministers from "Hansard" in reference to railway construction, and said the stoppage of the line was the greatest piece of political trickery that had yet occurred in the Dominion. Mr. Ransom had broken faith with ftie people and with the House as well.