EAST COAST DEVELOPMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 46, 6 February 1920, Page 5

EAST COAST DEVELOPMENT.

MEETING OF LEAGUE EXECUTIVE. PLENTY TO DO. ACTIVE POLICY NEEDED. A meeting of the executive committee of the East Coast Railway and Development League was held in Napier yesterday afternoon. Mr. C. Ellison presided, and there were also present: Messrs. J. Holden (Gisborne), G. Ebbett (Hastings), P. Ashcroft (Napier), A. Beamish, and R. M. Chadwick (Napier). Mr. WC. Whitlock (Hastings) was also present as a visitor. Apologies were received from Messrs. S. McLennon, Mossman, R. J. Thayer and A. E. Jull. The chairman stated that the meeting was the first of the executive in the year. He had been up the coast through Wairoa and the district, and had received good support, though the attendances at the meetings had been small, the people apparently relying on others to do the work. Mr. S. McLernon has also done a large amount of canvassing. The secretary reported that he could not find out who was the secretary of the Waikaremoana League, it was decided to address a letter to the chairman asking him and his league to consider amalgamation with the Development League. WAIROA-WAIKOKOPU RAILWAY. Correspondence was received from Wairoa, asking the league to make the completion of the kokopu railway one of its principal platforms. The chairman said he had been approached on the matter; They had done very well so far.,’ The Napier-Gisborne railway would relieve the position, but this would not be completed for some years according to present indications. Mr. Holden said Gisborne was in much the same position. They had no harbour, railway or road. They were going • for a loan for a large outer harbour. The league wanted a general scheme. Mr. Ellison: Do you mean that this is a side issue, and should be pushed locally at Wairoa. Mr. Holden said he did not mean exactly that. He* wanted all these matters dealt with as part pf the general scheme to be supported by the league. . Mr. Ashcroft said he thought they would do better if they pushed the linking up by the railway of the three places. Mr. Ebbett moved that the league inform Wairoa that they were in sympathy with the proposals . and would give any assistance possible. He did not want to divert the objects of the league from the general scheme. This was carried. CO-OPERATION WITH BAY OF PLENTY. It was decided to endeavour to have a representative at the next conference of the Bay of Plenty Development League with a view to co-operation. A letter concerning a quicker Gis-borne-Auckland service was referred to the secretary' of the league’s branch in Gisborne. PUBLICITY. It was decided to communicate with the editor of the Auckland “Herald” and “Weekly News” asking for publication concerning the line between Napier and Auckland via Wairoa and Gisborne. PARLIAMENTARY TOUR. The Gisborne branch wrote in connection with a proposed Parliamentary tour, to be arranged by the, league. The Auckland Railway League also wrote, congratulating the local league on its activity. The Auckland body suggested more co-operation between bodies. They also suggested a .general tour of the members of Parliament over the East Coast .downwards from Auckland. . Mr. Ellison said the members were going to Samoa and would not take! up tnis tour. He did not support it. I Mr. Ashcroft moved that the mat-1 ter be deferred until after the first, session of the House. The tour might { do some good later, but it was top) late in the year to make any move at present. FINANCE. The secretary (Mr. W. Cecil Prime) stated that £127 4/- had been collected, and expenses up (o the present reduced this to £4B 10/5. About £lOO was in view. Mr. Ellison mentioned the large amount of work that had been done by the secretary. He moved that the secretary be granted £lOO per annum. This was agreed to. PROGRESS OF E.C. RAILWAY. Mr. Ellison reported that the works from the Napier end were going on satisfactorily. 100 to 120 men were employed on the works which now reached up to about the 11 mile peg. A small bridge had to put in and there would be a further straight run for about four miles. The first tunnel would have to be put in at this stage. It was necessary that the tunnel should be started so that the work would not be delayed while it was being built. The embankment was so far. completed that the Government could take an engine over it as soon as they saw fit. The line had to be completed to connect with the railway at this end and this work would, he was informed, be started this week. He did not know what was happening at Wairoa. There were only a. few men working and these were employed on a road that had to be deviated befor the line was commenced. The league wanted a Minister of Public Works appointed, as it took a new man a little time to get into the workings. The most vital thing was to impress upon the Minister the necessity for carrying out these works with more up-to-date machinery and in a more expeditious manner. More men and better machinery weie the only ways of getting an active prosecution of these works. Mr. Holden said that Gisborne supported these views, especially as they were in a place that sometimes they could not get out of. Mr. Ashcroft suggested that when the new Minister was appointed he should be invited to come to the district and see what works were being done. Mr. Whitlock, in reply to a question, stated that Mr. , Massey had said recently that the new Ministers would be appointed shortly. Mr. Ebbett moved that the attention of the Premier be drawn to the urgent necessity for the appointment of a Minister.