RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

Gisborne Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9611, 6 February 1923, Page 3

RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION

AUCKLAND LEAGUE’S POLICY

THE EAST COAST LINE

SPEEDING-UP OP WORK URGED

The, annual meeting of the. Auckland Railway and. Development .League was held last week. The deputy Mayor, Mr G. Baildon, presided, and there was a moderate 1 attendance, including Messrs A. Harris, J. A. Lee, and W. J. Jordan, M’s.P. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £7B for the year ended January 6, or, with £22 due to the League, £IOO. Mr P. Cheal moved a motion deprecating expenditure on branch lines which showed no prospect of becoming payable and were contrary to the policy of completing the main trunk lines. He asserted/that in the past year over £600,000 had been so expended. He favored “feeder” roads instead of branch railways. Mr A. Spencer seconded the motion. M# Harris said the Government’s policy was -to make no branch lines unless they would pay. - Some of them must be. constructed from time to time as part of the national system. He said that one line in particular on the Hawke’s Bay coast was essential .to the needs of a large district. ' Mr F. C. Rollett concurred with the latter assertion. —. Mr Cheal said he wanted to see all branch lines wait until the main trunk lines were completed. The motion was amended to read in general terms, and in that form was carried. On Mr Rollett’s motion the meeting decided to urge on the Government the early concentration of ail its forces on .-the completion of the Waihi-Tauranga section of the East Coast railway. Mr C. W. Harris, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council moved that the Government bo urged to complete the unfinished sections of the East Coast line, particularly the Pokeno-Paeroa section. He said the population ol the county was 30,340, the area 4,975,360 acres, and the gross valuations in 1921 were £29,906,363. Therefore in fairness and justice the linking-up of the Hauraki Plains was demanded. It was one ol the richest districts in the Dominion, and was considerably handicapped by having no direct railway connection. The motion was carried. Another resolution advocating the formation of roads as “feeders” to the main railways, was adopted. Mr. Cheal was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his past services as president and secretary. He consented to retain the presidency for another term.