RAILWAY LINE

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1935, Page 7

RAILWAY LINE

may be closed. TE PUKE TO TANEATUA. (Per Press Association). TAURANGA July 29. Prior to his departure for Athenree Sir James Gunson, acting-chairman of the Railways Board, commenting on the visit of members of the board and the general manager to th© district’, swid that the object of the journey to the eastern portion of the Bay of PJen-ty was to discuss with those interested the important question of closing the line from Te Puke to Tan cauta. At the present time, he said, there was a substantial operating loss on this portion of the line and that state of affairs cou'd not be allowed to continue. The State had, in effect made a present of the line to the dis trict and was unable to ?ook for a full interest return on the cost of construction, but the department did expect that the revenue would meet operating cos/ts particularly when the business was there to b e done but was not being given to 'the railway. Natur ally the board was averse to closing my line, and if the board were reIretantly forced to close the line be l wocn Te Puke and Taneatua th: decision wou’d only be made after all ■ 'issible efforts to secure to the railway the tYaffie to which it was en* titled had failed. The matter wag en tirely in the hands of the settlers and <1 interested in the welfare of the district. As far as Te Puke was con f'erned concluded Sir James, the posi tion of the line and its operation was satisfactory but beyond that it was far from satisfactory and called for definite action; but as he had a-readv stated, no precipitate action would be Taken.