RAILWAY SOUTH

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1937, Page 4

RAILWAY SOUTH

ACTIVE AGITATION The Westland County Council continuing the active agitation for the extension of the railway.beyond Ross, has caused the following letter to be despatched this week to the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister:

To T?!e Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister, WELLINGTON.

Rt. Hon Sir, I have the honour, by direction of the Chairman to convey for the j'in bi'mation /of yourself and colleagues of the Ministry, the following resolution of the Council, adopted unanimously at the meeting on the 14th inst namely

“That the Council support the representations of the Member for Westland in respect to the extension of the railway into South Westland as the most effective means of ensuring the rapid development, of the district, and the soundest economic means of realising the value to accrue from the extensive timber tan os to be tapped.

“That a copy of the foregoing be forwarded to the Rt. Hon. the Prime Minister for the information of himself and Cabinet, and invite favourable consideration to the urgent need of the district to further development and settlement of the (Town estate as the forest wealth is recovered.”

In submitting the foregoing it is only necessary to point to the immensity of the forest area to be dealt with. There are supplies of timber for many years ahead in the southern district. Fome estimate of the life of the forest may be guaged by the fact that about. Hokitika for over 70 years sawmilling has been carried on, and there still remains mn v "- mills or era ting in TTie district. The same applied to the south, means that the timber will last indefinitely for many decades to come. Westland, it is suggested has not had the attention its resources merited, in the matter of railway connection. , Along the Coast from GreymOuth to Hokitika and on to IRoss, are about 35 miles of railway. The pavable character of the IRoss line, and the vast quantities of timber carried over it, one of the frreatest in the Dominion, give an indication of the need for railway transport. The same means pushed further south will result in a continuous payable section of line.

Apart from the freight return, the State will derive a largo sum on royalties payments as the timber is cut out. The payable character of the undertaking is thus assured. In addition, the railway will ensure the whole of the tree being used, ana not the selected portions as now owing to the cost of road transport. There is thus a great waste of wealth going on. and this national loss can be checked only by rail connection. Further, the line . will be a great help to settlement in the transport of stock and dairy produce, and in receiving fertilisers and machinery for Farm development. There is an annual loss year by year in stock driving over roads congested with traffic, while lamb and sheep traffic is damaged in the rough lorry trips now to be rendered. It is submitted there is no mo e promising public work for undertaking in the Dominion, than the extension of the railway south 'tapping the forests, opening up the lands, and giving settlement the same means of ready transport convenience as that enjoyed by other parts more fortunately placed, ana which derive their sustained prosperity by the great facility afforded by means of rail connections direct to the markets of New Zealand.

It is with every confidence that this appeal is made to yourself ana the Government, which has already paid such special attention to the needs of the district, an 1 trust it will engage your interest, and in conferring with the Member for A\ r estland, who is such an advocate df the work in question, realise its fnl 1 import, and so crown the services of Westland with the provision of an under-taltfng which will be the coping stone to its future sustained prosperity. Commending the foreging to Tour careful consideration.

A copy of the letter has been sent also to Mr O’Brien M.P., who has been asked to advise if he considers a deputation to the Prime Alinister necessary to support his activities in the matter. Representatives of the Farmers Union branches are agreeable to join the deputation, while Air P. J. AlcLean AI.C.C-. has offered to attend, and the Bnller Progress League to assist in a practical way.