RAILWAY LEAGUE

Press, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5361, 30 November 1882, Page 3

RAILWAY LEAGUE

I The usual weekly meeting of the com- | mittee of the Railway League was held i hwt evening at the Chambers of Mr T. S. Weston, M.H.R. Present—Mr W. Chry- ; stall (chairman), Messrs J. Joyce, J. G. Ruddenklau, W. Vincent, A. G. Howland, T. S. Weston, J. R. Johnston, W. S. Ring, T. O. Kelsey, R. W. England, D. Reese, H. W. Peryman, T. Pavitt, T. Bruce, E. Wickes, H. Thomson, Blackmore, W. H. Packer, C. E. Button, A. Scott, R L. Higgins, R. D. Thomas and T. B. Craig (secretary). A letter was read from Mr A. Chalmers, of Lyttelton, asking the intentions of the League with reference to the formation of local branches.

The Chairman reported that the finance committee were not in favor of admitting persons on payment of a subscription, as it would weaken the constitution of the League. Mr Reese thought the fact that Lyttelton was already represented on the League would be sufficient, provided those representatives attended the weekly meetings of the committee. It was not desirable to alter the present constitution of the J_r Joyce suggested that a public meeting might be held at Lyttelton, at which members of the League would attend. Mr Payitt supported Mr Reese'B suggestion. Mr Thomson thought the absence of the Lyttelton 1 representatives was attributable to other causes than want of interest in the movement.

Mr Higgins thought a great deal might be done by the members of the League bringing the subject which they had at heart before the people in their respective localities. It was his intention to adopt this course, and the Lyttelton representatives might do the same. Mr■■: Pavitt thought that they could hardly expect Mr AUwright to attend the meetings, as, though a member of the League, he was not on the committee. The same might be said of the other Lyttelton representative. He was aware that Mr AUwright was strongly in favor of the West' Coast railway, and the movement also had the sympathies of Mr Garforth. After Borne discussion it was decided that Mr Chalmers be informed that the League did not see its way to alter its constitution in the direction suggested. Mr Ji R. Johnston said he had a resolu- ; tion to move, which he thought if carried 'would ensure the object they had in view. [it was aa follows. —" That as soon as full information can be got with reference to tho East and West Coast routes, the members of the League representing counties and Road Board districts be asked to call meetings, and to invite the members of the House of Representatives, and request that they will at the next session of Parliament ask the Ministry to put on tha ! estimates the sum of .£950,000 to make the 1 West Coast railway, being the amount voted for that railway in 1878, the district of Canterbury being entitled to two and a-half millions out of the various loans raised since the abolition of the provinces ; and in the event of the Ministry not doing so they will all unite at the first opportiinity . a»d ♦ote'to tarn .- Mr Joyce asked if the .£950,000 referred to had been actually voted.' Mr Reese said it was included in Mr Maeandrew's schedule in 1878 before the borrowing of the five million loan. " Mr Higgins seconded the resolution. The latter part might, perhaps, be modified.

Mr ; Joyce said before considering the resolution they should hear what communications had been received from the Government.

Mr Recce hoped both the mover and seconder would see the propriety of withdrawing the resolution. [Hear, hear.] He deprecated any attempt to coerce their representatives. #They would get on very well without the necessity for such a resolution. The mover and seconder having consented, the motion was withdrawn. Mir Pavitt remarked that if it were found at a later stage that a number of Canterbury members would not support the object of the League, it would then be time enough to adopt the courae proposed by Mr Johnston. Mr Higgins thought that some of the Canterbury members had already shown a want of sympathy with the movement. The Chairman reported that he had received a telegram from the Hon. Mr Dick to the following effect .—"The Government on the 24th of this month telegraphed to the Commissioner, asking them to report on the West Coast railway, and received this reply, that they had made inquiries as would enable them incidentally to furnish tho information now 1 required by the Government. I may -add that the Government also propose to have I a flying survey made, and to collect such ' farther information r a* may be sufficient to 1 enable the Assembly to deal with the I matter" He thought this tele- | gram hardly gave them what they asked for in the resolution forwarded to the Government. It proposed to make the West Coast route incidental and of secondary importance to the extension of the trunk line. The Commissioners, in thanking the committee for the figures, furnished to them, said the information'would be valuable to them when considering the branch Tines, thereby indicating' that they regarded the exteiitdoiJL to Reefton as a branch" line. From theHenor of the communications received by the president of the Chamber of Commerce from the Minister for Public Works, it would appear that everybody was at cross-purposes in' the matter. He thought they should communicate again «rith the Government and endeavor to get them to consider the line to Reef ton in the light of an extension of the main trunk line. Mr Howland said he had heard two Government supporters say that the Go--1 vernxqent had promised to instruct, the Commissioners to report on the West > Coast railway, and on asking one of those - ■ gentlemen why he did not make the inf or- , mation public, he said there was too much agitation about the matter. Mr Button stud the sooner the League 1 settled the question of what route they 1 desired the better. Mr Scott and himself , represented from 10,000 to 12,000 people, who objected to a branch line to Reefton, ; and would oppose any movement in that ■ direction, i They would much rather have 1 no line to Oie West Coast at all than that , the wfute.fhould go round by way of Reef- ; ton. Brunnerton would take in the whole 1 of the Coaat, and there would be a branch ' fine of 48 miles to Reefton. The line via - Reefton would take SIS miles to reach : Brunherfoa, and would not touch Westi land proper at aIL If there was to be a 1 sort of compromise with the Government : to go' only a certain distance to the west the line would be useless to the Westiand ' people. : Mr Higgins said if the Westiand people I got a railway to connect with Christchurch i what would it m_tter*if it went a few mike i north. f Mr Reese agreed with the remarks ol ; Mr Button with regard to tho direction ol t the route- Tha League ahotdd pass « s resolution urging -pontile Governrnent tt r give them i__ mainline to Westiand v - preference to any extension northwards, i- and should try to get a straight answei X back.

Mr Button-moved the following resolution—" That"having heard the telegram from the Colonial Secretary, this League desire 3to impress on the Government that the object of its constitution is to connect the West Coast with Christchurch by the 1 best and shortest route possible, having regard to economy and the commercial advantages the various routes respectively i offer, and without reference to any main trunk line northwards." Mr Joyce seconded the resolution. Mr Weston said that he read the telegram from the Colonial Secretary with some surprise, having heard outside that the Government had promised to instruct the Commissioners to report on the West Coast line. An incidental reference, as suggested by the Minister, would amount to nothing, and the whole question would be practically burked. The League should have insisted upon a new Commission to report on the Wesit Coast line per se. He would cordially support the resolution, but thought the last> few words might be omitted.

Mr Thomas thought that if the resolution were passed the Government would take no notice of it, because Parliament having made no appropriation they had no power to go into the question of the East and West Coast railway. It was impossible to ignore the existence of strong local prejudices between Greymouth and Hokitika, and the League would not have the sympathy of the members of the Parliament or of the public if it went in for a .direct line to the West Coast, so much aa it would if it advocated a branch line from the main trunk line northwards.

Mr Pavitt did not think it should be assumed that it was definitely settled that there should be a main trunk line northwards.

Mr Thomson concurred in this view.' He heard with astonishment that the country or the Government were pledged to a Northern line. If they would take the trouble to read " Hansard," they would see that the Government had left out of the estimates entirely the whole of the _ÜBO,OOO, for the express purpose of giving them time to say where they would like to have it spent. .1 hey should make up their minds what they wanted. If they really wanted the best line to the West Coast let them ask for it straight; and if they thought it premature to make a line to Cook Strait let them say bo. But don't let them get playing at cross purposes. Mr Weston advocated the appointment of a separate Commission to report on the West Coast line.

Mr Button, at the suggestion of several members, agreed to strike out of his resolution the words " and without reference to any t«<»~ trunk line northwards." The Chairman thought they might add the words of their former resolution, to the effect that the Government be requested to extend the powers of the present Commissioners, so as to admit of their reporting on the advisability or otherwise of making the extension of the main trunk line by way of the West Coast. Mr Button would prefer a new Commission altogether. . Mr Pavitt suggested that if the resolution formerly passed by the League were added, the Government could not avoid giving them a direct answer. After some discussion, Mr Button's resolution was agreed to, with the following addition:—" And that the Government be requested to issue a new Commission to report on such line before the next meeting of Parliament."

The Chairman asked what was to be done with the report submitted by the committee to the Commissioners. He would suggest that it be forwarded to the Government.

After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Joyce, " That a copy Of the report be handed to the Press, and a copy forwarded to the Government." Mr Joyce moved—•' That a committee, consisting of the Chairman,, aud Messrs Vincent, Pavitt, Inglis, Reese, Howland, Meares, and the Hon. E. Richardson, be appointed, to invite the Canterbury and Westiand members to meet them, in order to consider'the best means of furthering the object of,the League.'* Mr Button seconded the resolution* The Mwor^ih^agWuit..would-bebetter, ■that' bodies represented on the League should communicate with the members of Parliament, who were responsible to them more than to the League.

After some. discussion the motion was carried.

. Mr Howland said he understood that funds were not coming in as rapidly as might be expected, ; and he thought the members present Bhould assist as much as possible. He would be glad to head the listwith £2. [Hear,hear.] Several other members also handed in contributions.

The committee then adjourned.