CLUTHA VALLEY RAILWAY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 92, 7 June 1912, Page 5

CLUTHA VALLEY RAILWAY.

f DEPUTATION TO 'lhe deputation that waited upon Iho Prime Minister at Dunedin on Wednesday uiging the construction of a railway from llulclutha to Tuapeka Mouth \yere in the- fortunate position of speaking to a Minister who knew tile district and its capabilities well. He knew the diilieulties the settlers of a fertile a nd reproductive district had in finding an outlet for their output, and he knew they had a good case and that the railway would be a paving proposition from the start. .Moreover, he, was sympathetic towards the case they presented.

| The deputation was introduced by Mr J. 11. Allen, son of the member for ISruce, who was unavoidably absent feom home. The speakers were Messrs ; P. Mchierne.y (who led off and urged the line should be the fast to receive consideration), .1. J-]. Keenan, A. Blair, ,1. Skinner (Tuapeka Mouth), J. U. Mitchell and C. p, Overton (Clvdevnle) and E. ,1. Iloyd (Balelutlia). An alteration in-the hour fixed for the deputation was ,the cause of , the absence of sd era! others who had j arranged to be present. I The Prime Minister, in reply, said he was very pleased to meet so large a deputation. He was quite familiar with the Clutha Valley, and recognised, its great productive capabilities. As for the remark that the Clutha Valley Railway should be the first to be put ' in hand, lie pointed out that through- : out the Dominion there were many districts with equal needs. The time I had come for Parliament to consider I whether or not a separate borrowing scheme should be adopted for the pur- | pose of developing the country. lie | was sorry to sav that there were some 'districts more densely populated than tlu> 'Clutha Valley which were without ; railway communication, and some of I them were very badly off for roads owing to the fact thu metal was not [ obtainable. Personally, he was in fa. fvour of adopting a policy to construe! liirht lines as feeders to the main railways. ]f that were done it would be possible within a reasonable number of years to reach the people requiring | assistance in the form of transport facilities. If, on the other hand, they j were to follow the present method of. constructing heavy lines, jt would bo so long before the back country was ! reached that the present occupiers of land would not enjoy the benefits of j railways. He cited what was being I dome in Australia in (lie matter of light railway, and mentioned that the. lines put in were costing from £17(50 to £2,800 per mile, and that many districts were Paving 4 per cent. on | the cost of construction, whereas they ■ could only have paid 1 per cent. if the old method had been adopted. He was going to submit to Cabinet a proposal dealing with branch lines reI quired, and make their construction a part of the Government, policy, and thus raise, Parliament willing, money i for the purpose. He was quite sure that these districts would pay on a carefully-thought-out system. Speaking |of the question of borrowing he referred to the censure that came readily I from some quarters. He assured bis hearers that every penny of the five million loan had been required for the development of the country. If he ! could get Cabinet to agree to a special loan for the proposed branch rail- , ways to be submitted to them, Clutha Valley would be included in the list. : He expressed the opinion that all pai'- | ties in politics should come to a common understanding as the borrowing of money for development, works. Referring to other needs ■of the Clutha district, he said lie knew 1 a great deal about the silting of the ' rivers, and of the necessity for better ' protection of Baleluthn. He spoke of the proposed protective works, and ! mentioned that if the whole scheme were carried out the total cost would |bo £25,000. He thought that that estimate could be reduced by adopting a 'more modified scheme. The traffic bridge was to be widened at a cost of j £3OOO or £4OOO. Referring to the i land between Tuapeka Mouth and the Beaumont, he agreed that it was admirably suited for fruit farmß. He spoke'"of s the promise of great opporl tumtW;foV-;New Zealand fruit in foreign markets, ~ jjndixmcluded with thartktag r >tW ' deputation for their ■ kindly words; mMfliWtwMther he .was Prime Minister' 4o*?'fe"jong or short period he would always do his utmost to advance the country on | Rqtmd and honourable lines.—)Apjplauge.) The deputation was favourably impressed with the Prime Minister's reply and their thanks were tendered him lor receiving them in such an interested sympathetic w»y.