ROAD OR RAIL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 35, 12 July 1939, Page 8

ROAD OR RAIL

OPOTIKI BOROUGH COUNCIL RELIANCE ON GOVERNMENT * PROMISE A short discussion on the Taneatua. Opotiki railway and the question of road construction took place at the Opotiki Borough Council's last meeting when a letter was received from the county council inviting the borough council to appoint representatives to attend a meeting to discuss these points. Cr T. G. Johnson said that the council needn't worry about the railway—it was going to come. Some of the county councillors who were now against the railway had previously advocated the railway. They would not get ahead one bit by holding a meeting. Cr F. W. Bridger pointed out that Whakatane was asking for a coast road. Cr T. G. Johnson said two roads would have to be made. Cr F. J. Short: As far as the road is concerned it is useless to try and maintain it without sealing being done. The tar sealing will more than pay for itself. The Mayor, Mr G. S. Moody, said that the engineers had stated that the survey of the road from Opotiki to. Kutarere had been completed. Cr Johnson said Opotiki would get both rail and road. The Mayor: What is the use of a public meeting then? KOPUAWHARA DISASTER Cr Johnson said it would be only a short time before men would be put on the railway. Mr Semple had said he was not going to buy expensive machinery unnecessarily. The start of the line had been delayed as a result of the Kopuawhara floods. On the suggestion of the Mayor it was decided tc reply stating that as a result of Cr Johnson's explanation! the council had decided to rely on the Government's promise. Cr Johnson said the Minister had stated that the line would commence here in three months. APATHY ALLEGED BOROUGH COUNCIL REBUKED Readers Were no doubt surprised at the apathy displayed by the Opo. liki Borough Council-.in dealing-with the letter from the Opotiki County Council in connection with the proposed railway and the Opotiki.Taneatua highway, and asking that iepresentatives be appointed to attend the proposed public meeting says the "Opotiki News' commenting editorially on the above report. Members of the council appeared to miss the point that what is wanted by Lite county council is an expression of public opinion in favour of au early commencement of both tlie railway and the permanent scaling of the Opo tiki-Tancatua highway. The opinion of the Mayor that it was not worth sending representatives to the proposed meeting was a very poor lead to give the council, ''ADDITIONAL ROAD" The county council is very concerned about the lack of sealing on the present highway and Is obviously- not in the least interested in, the idea of an additional highway to Whakatane No word of the Government's inten-, tions regarding the existing highway has been received from the Public Works Department or the member for the district. Unless the people c f Opotiki wake up and demand their rights they will find that another highway, which will be of little use to the district, will be commenced, and the present Opotiki-Tancatua highway left in its present state for a few more years # despite tlie big volume of traffic it carries and will continue to carry. Representatives arc being appoint cd by other local bodies to attend the public meeting and it is to be hoped that the county council will press the matter to the uttermost. "SOMETHING FROM GOVERN. ME NT' Sem'-ofneial reports that the milway will be commenced al an early dale are of little value, What is wanted is something duvet from tlie Government itself. At the borough council meeting it was stated that reason the line to Opotiki had not been commenced was because of the Kopuawhara flood. When Mr Semple, almost a year ago, promised that the railway to Opotiki would be 'commenced r.-mo.-.t immed'alelv. he was quite aware of .the damage (Continued at foot of next column)

to the Napier-Wairoa line as the Kopuawhara flood had occurred about three months before his published statement. Something very definite is required from the Minister of Public Works, and the people of Opotiki should demand it. There is every indication that the meeting will be held at an. early dare and that the meeting will be a representative one, and the opinion of the Opotiki district forcibly expressed o:! the above vital matters.