THE MINISTER QUESTIONED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 18 August 1911, Page 5

THE MINISTER QUESTIONED.

On Wednesday Mr Pearce asked the Minister of Public Works whether, having visited the district during the recess, he would have an enquiry held and evidence taken as to the best route for the Opunake branch railway as follows:—(1) Where the railway will accommodate the most settlers ? (2) Where it will get most traffic? (3) Where it will be the cheapest to construct and maintain? and (4) which route will .be the best to relieve the roads from excessive traffic? Mr Pearce added that any reports already made by the Department were made some years ago, when the district was not so closely settled as at present, and exports from the dairy factories were not nearly so large.

Mr R. McKenzie said two reports had been made recently on the routes of this railway^ one in 1905 and another in 1907. As there was evidently no change in the conditions since then, it was considered at present unnecessary to investigate the matter further.

Mr Pearce, speaking subsequently, said the answer to his question was a most unsatisfactory one. He said it was high time the railway was built, because it would pay ten per cent. If the Government would not build the line the people should be given the right to build it. He severely condemned the action of tHe Government in building other unprofitable railways and neglecting this one.