TWO PROJECTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1915, Page 12

TWO PROJECTS

MR. E. NEWMAN'S OPINION

An expression of opinion, was sought from Mr. E. Newman, M.P., regarding matters of interest in the development of the Manawatu district, in .that particular portion which he represents. "There are two projects of supreme importance tft. the Rangitiltei and Mana* watu districts," v said Mr. Newman. "One is the acquisition ,of the Foxton wharf by the Harbour Board of, Foxton, and the other is the linking up o£ the Sandon-Himitangi tram % with the main line at Marton. Negotiations are now on foot between tho Railway De- [ partment _ and the Foxton Hai'bouv Board which it is hoped will soon, bring to an_ end the present unsatisfactory conditions, by which the profits from I the wharf go to swell the Railway De» j partment receipts, instead of being ex- , pended upon their legitimate object, I the improvement of, the Manawatu ißiver and the development of the port 'of Foxton. . ' "What is known as the Sandbn tram is the property of the, Manawatu' County Council, and' is doing excellent service to tho settlers of the lower district at the present time, but its uso« fulness is much impaired by the fact that it is not connected with the main line at the northern end. If this connection were made, farmers' pro* duce -^ grass t seed (for which Sandon district is how famous), grain, chaff, potatoes, etc. — would havo easy access to their nearest and best market, the Main Trunk lino. Right up to the Waikato there in, practically i no arable land, and A constant demand exists, and probably will always exist,for these farm products by the bucu i settlers of the i higher country and from the towns along the railway. Further, if the connection id made, & better mar« ket will be found for the store sheep* lambs, and cattle which are now bred on the hills adjoining the Main Trunla amongst the farmers owning the rich fattening country of the lower M»«a* watu district, and building and fh'et wood timber, which has also to be inn ported' into Manawatu, would find % ready market. ' "As a matter of fact, Foxton is the '.natural seaport of tha Main. Trunk lino,, and the 'traffic would go there in pre* ference to Wangahui, i the haulage being much cheaper, on account of the rvoidance of ' the , steep grades of ' the Wain gaehu and Turakma hills. By. the pa&M sage of the Local Railways Bill last year — for which the Hon. Mr. Frasef k Minister of Public Works, deserves tha gratitude of the backblocks settlers and ! others^ — machinery is provided by means . of which such work as that in question can be undertaken. I, think it iB only the conditions caused by tho war thaf> has prevented a scheme being laid before the ratepayers before npw to pro* vide funds for the construction of this short but important link of railway, t hope that before many years these two important projects, essential to the.development 'of tho Manawatu and the Rangitikei districts, and tho great area, affected by the Main Truuk, will bs brought to a successful issue. "In my opinion, the Government should purchase the Sandon tram, and make the connection at Marton, becausq ultimately, when, owing to the increase of traffic, duplication of portions of the main line become necessary, I believe the main line will be shortened by-com-ing through direct from Levin to t Matv ton— a saving of about sixteen miles— in which case tho whole line should- be the property of the State."