RAILWAYS AND TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1125, 12 May 1911, Page 6

RAILWAYS AND TRADE.

ANOTHER CRY FROM AUCKLAND,

(By TeJccra'ph.—Special Correspondent.!

Auckland, May 11. According to a statement made by Mr. J. H. Gunson, chairman of the Railways Committee of the Auckland Chamber ot Commerce, to a "Herald" representative yesterday, it is highly probable that a public meeting Mill be convened withm the next few (lays to consider Auckland railway - requirements, and to protest against the evident intention of the Government to neglect them as far as possible. "The question of. the railway requirements of the Auckland province and the attitude of the Government upon the matter," said Air. Gunson, "has again been forcibly brought before us by the recent speeches of Ministers of the Crown, and particularly those of the Minister for Public Works, during his recent visit to Napier and other centres of tho North Island. The Hon. R. M'Kenzie clearly indicated that it was tho intention of the Government in constructing the East Coast railwav to ignore the' claims of Auckland bv establishing a branch of tho Public AVorks office at Napier, and vigorously prosecuting the line from that end. doing absolutely nothing. from tho AYailn end onwards throu'h the fertile Bay of Plenty district. The effect of this proposal, if consented to by Parliament, and carried into effect as is the Minister's Intention, will be to link up with A\ellington the districts north of Napier to Gisborno and well into the Bay of Plenty, and obviouslv in the course of a few years where connections of this kind exist the trado of these districts, which now conies to Auckland, and is conducted largely by means of our valuable coastal steamers, will be' to a considerable extent diverted southwards. Another aspect of tho question, while not directly affecting the Auckland province, is that of the proposed vigorous prosecution of new lines in the South Island. As the Government cannot, for financial reasons, undertake the construction of more than a certain number of miles of railway for a certain given period, if the amounts for railway construction are to be spent in one island or in the south and middle portions of the North Island, it is clear that tho Auckland province is going to suffer. lam firmly of opinion, in view of the conditions prevailing, and the public utterances made by responsible Ministers, that the time is ripe for prompt action upon a large and-general scale by Auckland's representative men and citizens generally; that we should longer tolerate the position that has existed in connection with our railway needs for years past is impossible, and I am perfectly satisfied that if united action is taken along proper lines the Government will, and must, give heed to Auckland representations."