SOUTH WESTLAND RAILWAY

Grey River Argus, 23 December 1943, Page 8

SOUTH WESTLAND RAILWAY

Ross Council Not in Favour ROAD AND HARBOUR TRANSPORT PREFERRED The following- statement of the attitude of the Ross Borough Council regarding the proposal for an extension of the railway to South Westland has been issued by the Town Clerk. Miss K. M. Minehan, on behalf of the Council:— Re proposed South Westland Railway. extension: In view of the publicity this Question has received of late, my council wishes to place its views on record. Taking into consideration the enormous cost involved in an extension of the existing line from Ross to Wataroa—anything up to two million pounds foi' approximately 40 miles of railway—the Ross Borough Council cannot kive its support to the proposal. My council realises that the construction of the proposed line would give some temporary advantage to the town of Ross, through the expenditure of a considerable part of the wages earned by the men engaged on the work, but. also realises that this would be only a passing benefit and that no lasting good would accrue. My council submits these alternative proposals for the advancement of Westland: fl) Completion of the widening, straightening and tar-sealing of the unfinished portion of the Hoki-tika-Ross main highway; (2) widening, straightening and tar-sealing of. the main highway from. Ross southwards as far as is necessary so that ultimately a first-class road suitable for all types of traffic will be available to link up with the new road over the Haast Pass; (3) fhe extension of electric power southwards from Hokitika so that Ross and South Westland can enjoy an amenity provided for most other districts in New Zealand; (4) the provision of modern and safe allweather harbours both at Greymouth and at Rruce -Bay or Jackson Bay so that West Coast oroaucts can be shipped with regularity and safety. In the opinion of my council the adoption and completion of the above suggested works would confer much more benefit on the whole of Westland than would the projected railway extension to Wataroa.