TARANAKI-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18128, 18 July 1924, Page 8

TARANAKI-AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

PLEA FOR COMPLETION. (FBXsa isaociATio* riLKaaut.) WELLINGTON, July 17. Every local body in Taranaki was represented on a deputation to Mr Massey and the Hon. J. G. Cbates today which urged the completion of the laranaki-Auckland railway connexion of thirty-four miles between Stratford and Okahukura. < Mr Ccates, in reply, said that £447,000 had beeil spent up to June last on the western end of the line and. another £IOO,OOO would complete it to Ohura. After that the cost of completion would be a million. There was very heavy tunnelling to be done. He cpuld not say anything about expediting this work, as that depended on other works in hand. However, the railway was necessary, and must take its order of completion. It was one of the most important lines. Mr Massey said the country could not afford to allow a gap of thirtyfour miles in what was really a mam trunk line. An important feature of the completion of the line was the linking-up of two great provinoes. He was not in a position to make any promises • and neither was the Minister of Public Works, but the gap could not be allowed to remain.* It was a matter of finance, and at present they had even more urgent purposes to finance in the way of construction.