kelson Progress League Replies To Rail Critics

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29138, 25 February 1960, Page 15

kelson Progress League Replies To Rail Critics

(New Zealand Press Association)

NELSON, February 24. It had been officially forecast that by 1975, Nelson would need to supply 50 million super feet of exotic timber anually to markets further south, says a statement by the Railways Advisory committee of the Nelson Progress League, replying to criticism of the Government’s decision to connect Nelson with the South Island main trunk railway. The statement adds that Nelson district has 62,000 acres of exotic plantations (26,000 acres State owned and 36,000 privately owned) and almost 3000 acres additional being planted each year. A survey had shown that, by 1975, Nelson's sawn timber output alone might reach 117 million super feet.

Timber and wood products would be only one class of busin®®s th e railway would handle, adds the committee’s statement ‘•Notional” Railway Alluding to the notional railway at present operating, the statement says it. provides no surety because it could be cancelled at the stroke of a pen. and industrialists could, not count on it when deciding where to establish industries. Moreover, under it freight and passenger rates were being charged on the basis of the distance of 75 miles from Blenheim to Nelson. The estimated rail mileage was less than 50, and this would reduce charges by a third and do it permanently. The trans-Strait vehicular ferry between Picton and Wellington was also a new railway situation. The statement denied that the decision to build the railway has been made in haste. It had been the subject of much close investigation over the years. “My guess is that the new Nelson railway will go up the Maitai valley,” Mr S. A. Whitehead. M.P., told fellow councillors at a meeting of the Nelson City Council last night Mr Whitehead suggested that the council should co-operate with the Ministry of Works when a workmen’s camp was erected in the Maitai valley, with a view to the council taking over the buidings for tourist accommodation when the railway work was finished.

A review of earlier surveys of the Maitai valley route is now being made by the Ministry of Works and an announcement about Government plans is expected in a few weks. Until now, it had been assumed that the new line would leave Nelson by way of Wakapuaka and the Whangamoa. The Maitai route would involve three instead of six miles of tunnelling, as on the Whangamoa one. A line via the Maitai would provide ‘he shortest rail' link with Blenheim, 47 miles.

Original surveys made of both routes, as possibilities, brought the first sections of both out at Peloros bridge.