PUBLIC OPINION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7960, 12 April 1922, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION

POLITICAL RAILWAYS. Sir, -You published, with your usual accuracy, a statement in'the local and general column, of the Bay of Plenty Times to the effect that surveyors had commenced the survey of the route of the proposed railway line from Rotorua to Ta«po. Your report naturally called to mind the statement! of the Minister of Public Works that he could ' not proceed with the construction | of the Tauranga to Waihi line for i want of money. Yet he has money ;' to waste on the survey of a punw* i desert railway route. The OtumocI tai Brauch of the Farmers' VW took the matter up awl poin^do" 1 that this survey was authorised at the request of only 15 pWP ! <T ' some of whom were Maoris. Seeing that this truthful change would reflect upon his friend, Sir WW* Hemes, for want of push and «!««■ ness, Mr T. Tanner rushes w «J splits hairs over the use of thejoru authorise. To defend Sir-Will"* Hemes from the effect of U» «J fention that money that ougW bo spent on the WeM*"** line was being wasted on the * vey of a pumice desert railway,* political purposes, he urges \mw survey was not authorised, » Tanner's first letter P*4 V /1 the truth of the complaint 01 Olumoelai Farmers' Uj* ( he wrote as follows: _ 1 I" ■> some surveyors are going <" , line to see if it is practicable «J to get some idea of the cosi Tanner presumes that *>ni vevo»,»'ete.-])id these«J«£ fall from the moon or arc i*J caped lunatics who have no « itvf No, Sir, these surve>ors the Public Works Department of,he Land and Survey never act without being autfio Mr Tanner's explanation --or {o Sir William Herries-is too. deceive anybody. As one a sincere respect for 3lr * who is one of our nios \f£»> teemed settlers, I regret tW loyaltv to his old friend, .& Hemes, loads him to attempt t fend what canaot be on the grounds of political iency. I am, eto., fA SOK. Tauranga, April 11, 19 2 JL