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Evening Star, Issue 12926, 24 September 1906, Page 4

We are glad to observe that there is some vitality in tho RoxI.anrencp. burgh-Lawrence Railway Koxbnrgh League—at least, up the nallnaj. Roxburgh end. A special

meeting of the northern branch was held on Friday, at which representations were made concerning the rather unsatisfactory rate of progress on the line and the necessity of -urging the Government to propose a substantial vote for the operations of the current year. We are not at all sure that the Premier and some of his colleagues sufficiently appreciate the claims of this undertaking upon their active good-will, and if the Otago members of Parliament do not bestir themselves it is not unlikely that the figure mentioned in the Public Works Estimates will be comparatively trivial. The League ask for a vote of £50,000, aid we have no hesitation in saying that £40,000 should be the irreducible minimum. If that sum is to be spent on the line brfore March 31, however, the work must be prosecuted with much greater energy than has been manifested of late. The League point out that as the tunnel at Big Hill will take a considerable time to construct, it is desirable that operations should be prosecuted at both ends of the line without delay. The chairman (Mr Bennetts) recently visited Wellington ii the interests of the project which he has so closely at heart and interviewed Ministers—presumably without obtaining a definite response ; while the member fcr the district (Mr Bennet) may be trusted -x> be vigilant and energetic in the same cause. We have a misgiving, however, that neither the Roxburgh-Lawrence line nor the (if anything) still more important railway at Catlins will secure adequate recognition from the Minister of Public Works unless the Otago representatives, in '.ones of insistent unity, assure *he Government that they will bo satisfied with nothing less. It must be freely admitted that>-at least, as regards consultative activity—tiey appear to have worked together in an excellent spirit since the opening of tie session, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and it'remains to be seen whether this novel solidarity will produce the material results "that the province has a right to expect. We should welcome some clear indication of Ministers being seriously impressed-, not to say disturbed, by the resolute demeanor of the Otagophalanx with respect to railway construction. The auestinn of tka Harbor Board endowments

is paramount,.no doubt, but it is not solitary, and the necessity of resisting.injustice in one quarter should not be allowed -to silence the demand for fair treatment in another. The claims of the RoxburghLawrence line were 30 fully explained last year, when the controversy of the rival routes was being, threshed out, that repetition at the present time would be superfluous, and Ministers are well aware that the interests of land settlement, cheap fruit supply, and other industries mark this undertaking as specially worthy of unremitting attention and speedy completion. It is to be trusted that the latest representations of the Railway League will meet with the success to which they are entitled.