LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH ' RAILWAY.

Evening Star, Issue 14037, 19 April 1909, Page 4

LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH ' RAILWAY.

TO-NIGHT'S MEETING. Messrs J. Bennetts, M'Fhail, Kinaston, and Andrews (of. Roxburgh), and *Mr Pilling (of Lawrence) will attend to-night's indignation meeting. The following is the principal resolution to be put:— That this meeting of Duxiedin citizens consider that the Government, in stopping the work upon the Lawrence-Rox-burgh Railway— for the reason that it would prove unpayable—acted without due, consideration, seeing that the work was only undertaken after the fullest investigation of the resources of the districts to be tapped had been made; consequently the i«a«m given by the Ministry is not substantial, and this meeting call upon the Government to immediately reconsider them decision, and if necessary, set up a commission to inquire still further into the probable earning power of the line when completed. REPLY FROM THE PRIME MINISTER, Sir Joseph Ward has sent the following reply to Mr T. Pilling, who was appointed secretary at the public meeting held at Lawrence recently to protest against the Government's action in connection withthe Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway :—" Your telegram regarding public meeting's protest re Lawrence-Roxburgh Railway to hand 1 much regret that it is not possible for the Government to take any other course tnan we are adopting at present. The situation is too grave to admit of any action on the part of the Government without Parliament being consulted and fuliv considering the position." TO-NIGHT'S MEETING. 10 THE EDITOR. •ff ir ~ lfc is to 1)e hoped that the public indignation meeting in connection with the above in the Town Hall to-night will be largely attended. I hope, also, reference will be made to the present apathetic attitude ot some of the Otago members of Parliament. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, for instance, says we need not look to him for any support in connection with this line 1 hope the Taieri electors will show then'-) indignation and let him know that what affects another part of Otago affects them also. Mr Mackenzie did not have such a runaway victory last election that he can afford to flout the wants of Ota K o in this manner We have now two Otago members in the Ministry, and yet we seem less likely to get justice done to Otago than ° V !T I s . time the citizens in this part of the Dominion woke up.—l am, etc., i ■, -,„ Disgusted. April 19.