AN APATHETIC CITY.

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 45, 21 February 1917, Page 12

AN APATHETIC CITY.

OPINIONS OF MR. G. R. SYKES,

CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

A similar answer to the same question was given by Mr. G. R. Sykes, M.P. for, Masterton, but he very emphatically placed the need of.-. a deviation of the Kimutaka line first in importance. The present line, he showed, was incapable of carrying all the goods produced in the

district, and much trade was being sent north which, in other circumstances, would como to Wellington. He could not understand why Wellington people were so apathetic regarding this matter of railway communication. The war could not be blamed for inaction now, because nothing more was done in times of peace. Wellington merchants were apparently content to see the Wairarapa trade go elsewhere, otherwise they would undoubtedly assist in bringing about a satisfactory solution of. the communication problem. It was -disheartening, to say the least of it, to find so -little support . coming from the city. . The objects of the Bim.utaka deviation as a timesaver and also as a means of increasing the carrying capacity of the railway were obvious and well known. THE BIG ESTATES. Mr. Sykes also referred to the large number of big holdings in the Wairarapa, and, as did Mr. Daniell, he

stressed the need of more population— tho cutting up of these estates for closer settlement. Already two or three estates had been acquired' on behalf of returned soldiers, and he hoped to see much more done in this direction. There was a danger at present of large station holders increasing their holdings by purchasing properties, the 'sale of which has been forced because the owners have had to go into camp. This should be guarded against if possible. With closer settlement came increased productivity, and Mr. Sykes was able to give an. actual instance of this. However, it was unlikely to come about until there were better means of communication with the back country. There was a tremendous area waiting to be opened up, and there were three methods whereby this might be done—namely, the construction of light railways to act as feeders for the present line, the construction of the Masterton- Waipnkurau railway, which would open up a great deal of country, and, lastly, the- construction of "a harbour somewhere on the East Coast. The whole province would benefit to a remarkable extent by'some big development scheme, and Wellington City stood to reap more, than any other place. Yet Wellington appeared to care no more about the progress of the Wairarapa than did, say, Invercargill. •■ '