TAURANGA-WAIHI RAILWAY CONNECTION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7965, 20 April 1922, Page 3

TAURANGA-WAIHI RAILWAY CONNECTION

, Ar at CITIZENS WANT Construction pushed The meeting called for the ‘"-eof outlining a common pU .vv in order to concentrate p n urgent matters to bring UP ?I he Minister of Public Shirks held in the Borough r V ,nril Chambers last night, S well attended. His Worship It Mayor, Mr B. Dive, presided, others present were ao d among . c . E M ac K t Tanner. W : W. Hn«, ? WhilinK. F. N- Christian, J. Len, J. R- Page, !C- Lowe, W. f A. lies (junior), B. C. o hbins T. Moncur, Clinkard, R. Sch Arman. T. Lochhead, J. L? A (senior), D. H. PnSian P. Densem. C. A. Hille LiLherlan J, H. Southey, T McCoy, Sadler, and Colonel r‘ A Ward. Mr R. King, rtprefenlinstbc Te Puke Branch of the Farmers’ Union, was also in “iheKor explained the puro one or two important questions. He would be pleased to hear any “Iff “'suggested that they should confine their represenlaions to the Minister to one or «o matters. He looked upon he completion of the railway bridge Z raoit important question and moved— That this meeting) looks upon the completion of the bridge P as the most essential matter to be placed before the SSerof Public Works. Mr ] on es, continuing, said the Minister had laid down a definite policy in regard to the railway. When they had the bridge completed they would have a strong argument for pushing on the line towards Waihi. Mr Whiting seconded the Christian said he liked the tone of Colonel Ward’s letter in the Bay of Plenty limes. The bridge cannol be delayed. Ihe work was under way. The most important matter was railway connection with the Tauranga wharf and this should be strongly placed before the Minister. tolonel.Ward said he could not see eye to eye with Mr Jones. ( He would like to see the wharf connection dealt with as a separate matter. They should press for the railway to be completed from Taneatua to Waihi as soon as possible. Mr Coates was not concentrating on the East Coast railway, but on one little portion of it. They should try and peg the Minister down to complete the bridge by Christmas 1923. The best business for the Dominion, the Bay of Plenty and Tauranga was to treat the railway as a whole from Taneatua to Waihi. The Bay of Plenty had a very large area of country awaiting the railway. He would like to see a request made for the completion of the bridge within two years and the prosecution of the railway from Tauranga to Waihi simultaneously. He asked if Mr Jones would accept that as an addition to his motion.

Mr Southey made a plea for the linking up of this district with the railway system of the Dominion, If we could get the district linked up with the rail way system there would be a large accession of population to the Bay of Plenty. Mr Thos. Tanner supported Colonel Ward’s remarks. We wanted population and as soon as the district was linked up with the railway system we would have a district equal to any other in the Dominion. Railway connection would confer great benefits on the farming community, as it would mean cheap freights for lime and fertilisers. The service to Awakeri would take traffic off the road, and should be advocated.

Mr Robbins appealed to Mr Jones to accept the proposal as mentioned by Colonel Ward. He (Mrßobbins) said it was absolutely necessary that the line should be linked up at Waihi as soon as possible He saw no reason why the construction of the harbour bridge and the other railway bridges in the western link should not proceed simultaneously. The Government would be justified in finding work tor the numerous unemployed on this railway. A petition was initiated by Mr Thos. Tanner, supported by the local bodies of the Bay of Plenty and forwarded to the Parliamentary Petitions ■Jjotntqittee. The latter supported the pttition and recommended that the construction of the East railway be expedited. It ~ as about tweaty-five miles from rauranga to Athenree and it Would be an absurdity to have that break in the line. While we JJ’untto impress on the Minister the necessity of pushing on the bridge we also want the construction going on between Waihi and Tauranga. We want the deputation to put the representation asoullined by Colonel Ward ad . to put them as strongly as Possible to Mr Coates. They were UOvocating this railway net only romalocal, but from a Dominion Poiot of view. ri J k! Litherlandsaid they had a 3 tto ,inland the railway as a tn’!° na wor k- We were entitled j, 1 ;, 110 ' on ly as Taurangans but dor« eW i blunders. We should It 2mm! the raii . wa y as our right. • 3 P 3 ytng proposition as So s a s it is finked up. *V lle endorsed the sentiiTw S °f the last throe speakers, ' was time that the electors of -j... f part °J New Zealand stood or their rights, The railway

would be a material factor in developing the country and increasing exports. It was time the district receiver! fair treatment. Mr Jones, in replying, said the Minister and Cabinet had laid down a policy and t! ey should bow to that policy. Manure would he got to this place cheaper by boat than by rail. Cries of No ! No !!

The Chairman thought the lime had arrived to urge on the Minister the need for greater expedition in the carrying out of railway works. Mr Tanner made an appeal for unanimit v.

Mr Jones agreed to withdraw his motion. Colonel Ward then moved — ’That this meeting considers that the Minister for Public Works should be urged to definitely undertake to have the bridge across Tauranga harbour completed within two years from the present date and to simultaneously and vigorously carry on the construction of the section of the line between Waihi and Tauranga.— In the course of further remirks Colonel Ward said the country between Tauranga and Waihi was producing equal to mmy other districts. The Government thought so much ot it that they had established two soldier settlements in the area. The line down the coast would not pay until the railway was linked up at Waihi. Mr Robbins seconded the motion. Mr Coates had previously told them that his policy was concentration and the completion of the main Trunk lines. Mr Green asked Colonel Ward to add to his resolution Taneatua as the finishing point of the railway. Mr Macmillan pointed out that the Government intended to proceed with the railway to Tanea tua. The meeting should confine itself to what it wanted—connec tion with the Waihi line. Our railway has been stopped and we were justified in asking that construction on it be carried on. He favoured the motion as it was tabled.

Several speakers thought the bridge should be completed in twelve or eighteen months, and asked Colonel Ward to amend his motion.

Colonel Ward, with the consent of his seconder, altered his motion to the effect that the meeting urges that the bridge across Tauranga Harbour be completed within eighteen months.

Mr Macmillan said he had been informed that the Public Works Department at Mount Maunganui was building a bridge for Strat ford. Mr Robbins said he understood that the building of the bridge for Stratford was not delaying the Tauranga bridge. Colonel Ward’s motion, with the alteration already indicated, was put and carried unanimously. The meeting then considered the personnel cf the deputation that is to wait on the Minister of of Public Woiks at Tauranga on Monday next. Mr Robbins moved That Colonel Ward and Mr Thos. Tanner be appointed the deputation to wait on the Hon J. G. Coates. The motion was seconded by Mr Macmillan and carried. It was decided that Mr Macmillan be deputed to convey the resolution of the meeting to the people of Katikati and ask them to wait on the Minister of Public Works in support of the resolution.

It was also decided to write to the Mayor of Waihi and ask support of the resolution in a similar manner.

It was suggested by Colonel Ward that the people of Te Puna might also wait on the Minister in support of the matter. Mr Lochhead expressed himself as in favour of the resolution, and was sure there would bs very close settlement when the railway was completed. The people of Te Puna intended to wait on the Minister in regard to the main road and would also support the railway. Mr Tanner asked Mr King to convey the resolution to a meeting at Te Puke and ask for support there. Mr King intimated he would be pleased to act as requested. Other Questions Mr Southey said the County Council intended to wait on the Minister in regard to several matters.

Mr Robbins said the subject of the light railway was to be placed before the Minister of Public Works.

Mr Macmillan brought up the question of railway connection with the wharves at Tauranga, as previously considered by the Harbour Board.

Mr King, speaking as Chair man of the Harbour Board, said the Harbour Board was much concerned as to the ultimate attitude of the Government in regard to railway connection with the wharves at Tauranga. The Public Works Department had modified the estimate, which was now The Board took up the position that it would not accept responsibility except for the construction of the wharf and the sheds. Whatever the cost would be the Board would have to recoup itself through the charges on the local people. Colonel Ward moved—That this meeting heartily supports the Tauranga Harbour Board in its request that the matter of providing adequate railway connection from the East Coast line to Tauranga wharf be favourably considered with a view to its cost being borne in its entirety by the Government, and that His Worship the Mayor, Crs Whiting and Jones be a deputation in this behalf. The motion was seconded by

Mr Green, supported by several speakers, and carried lyA vote of thanks to the Chairman, carried by acclamation, closed one of the most enthusiastic meetings of the kind that has been held here fur a considerable time.