COMPLETION OF RAIL GAP

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 14045, 27 April 1946, Page 2

COMPLETION OF RAIL GAP

TAXE&TUA-MOTUHORA LINK

ADVICE FROM MINISTER

The question of the TaneatuaMotuhora railway gap was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Chamber cf Commerce, when several letters on the subject were read. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce sent a copy of a letter from the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in which he stated that it had not yet been possible to allocate a survey staff to undertake the necessary survey and investigation as to the route to.be adopted. He hoped this would be possible at a reasonably early date and the Minister assured that it would be effected as soon as possible. The Minister added that there was a great demand for staff to undertake surveys of works which were assessed high in priority by the Ministry of Works. A survey staff was generally comprised of young men, the majority of whom had been in the forces and many of whom had not yet resumed duty after their Avar service. As soon as a party was available, the survey would be commenced.. The Opotiki Chamber cf Commerce has written to the Minister of Works and a copy of this letter was before the chamber. The Opotiki chamber informed that at a largelyattended general meeting of the chamber a resolution was passed that the Minister be written to pointing, out the pledge given by him to the deputation which waited on him on September 19 urging the completion of the Taneatua-Motu-hora railway and expressing the great disappointment of the chamber that to that date there were no visible sign of any action Having been taken by the Minister t > carry out such a pledge. The chamber trusted that it would have the Minister's assurance that an early start would be made to complete this important link in the North Island railway system. Commenting on the Minister's reply, the president of the Tauranga chamber (Mr F. N. Christian) said that he did not think there could be anything more satisfactory. It was very surprising to see the letter from the Opotiki chamber that the Minister had not redeemed his pledge and the speaker did net think Mr Semple could give a more satisfactory reply than he did. He could not do, the impossible. Mr Christian did not think they could expect anything more from the Minister than what they had at the present time. Once it was decided where the connection could be made, Mr Christian felt that it would not be long before it was made.