RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 175, 26 July 1907, Page 5

RAILWAY EXTENSION.

THE SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK

ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC

MEETING.

' A large and enthusiastic public meeting was held in the Town Hall last evening. Settlers were .present from almost every part of the province: the Mayor and Councillors of Picton attended in a body; the secretary and some members of the Flaxbourne Settlers' Association had come' in from that district; Awatere was well represented; and the ■North Bank Settlers' Association had sent its delegates; while the town district was also represented. Several •members of the Executive of the Marlborough Land and Raihvay League, under whose auspices the meeting was held, were present; and an apology for the absence of Mr R. F. Goulter, the ex-President, was made by the President (Mr R. McCallum). His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. McCallum), who presided, said it was needless to remind the meeting of its object. There was no doubt closer' settlement and railway extension had given a fillip to the trade and commerce of Marlborough. He would like to eulogise the Land and Railway League for the work it had already done. Even the little railway extension .to Seddon had shown what ' the effect of further extension would be. He invited a full discussion. A PROTEST. The President of. the League said that no apology was needed for calling the meeting. The League had, in season and out of season, been advocating railway extension, land settlement, and a new wharf at Picton; but the' time had come when it was deemed wise to have a public meeting to give force to their efforts. This large meeting, assembled in spite of inclement weather, showed that they were capable of enthusiasm in the matter. He would proceed to outline the policy of the League up to date, and then ask the meeting to join him in a protest against the treatment this district had received in the past. The history of the Picton railway datod very far back—before his birth. In 1861 the progressive Pictonites of that day had actually passed a Bill to put down a railway line from Picton ' o Blenheim. That Bill was thwarted in the general Parliament, and nothing was done for some years. When the Vogel policy of railway construction came in, however, it was taken up again: but not till 1875 was the railway completed. It was the first line in the Colony built by Brogden and Sons. Since 1875 they had only got 18 miles of extension, or half a mile per year. Vogel, in the late 'sixties, in outlining his policy, had imagined the whole Colony to be an immense .productive farm, and had said, "How can I get my produce to market in the quickest and cheapest way.?." An integral part of that policy was the completion of the line from the Bluff to Picton. It was a scheme they had not done their duty in pushing. There had been,, of course, disputes as to routes. A Commission had decided on the coast route. There had been for some time discussion as to whether the railway should branch off from Wui.para and come through Cheviot on to Kaikoura, or whether the Culver den branch should be continued through Green Hills to the same place. That, however, was a pure matter of detail, which their southern friends had to determine. What they .were immediately concerned with was the connection of Blenheim with Canterbury, and, they would not be satisfied until they got it, They were not getting their share of expenditure. One of his old friends had said to him, "Here we are contributing £30,000 per annum to the Consolidated Fund, and what do we get back?" This at once brought his old friend back, to the old Provincial Government. Marlborough to-day was just in the same position in relation to the general Government as Tasmania and West Australia were to the Commonwealth.- They had given up their Provincial Government to the central body in the faith that they were dealing with honest, honourable men; in the belief that they would return a fair share of the money. The League said they had not had their fair share, and it came there to get it. He then sketched the history of the League. It was formed in 1897, and Messrs R. F. Goulter and John Duncan and himself were the triumvirate who arranged the whole thing. On that very day ten years ago they passed a series of resolutions. He was going to show the meeting how many things had come about since then, not necessarily because of the League's advocacy, but possibly aided by the work of that body. The first resolution urged the completion of the South Island Main Trunk line; the second pointed out the advisability of settling the low country generally; the third urged the acquisition of Ugbrooke, Scarborough, and Flaxbourne, with a view to pushing on the railway, and I that the Awatere River be bridged; the fourth stated that there was a hunger for land in the district; the fifth that if these estates were cut up the land would be snapped at; and the sixth that if the southern market was opened to them by means of railway extension the price of their stock would be increased. The last was a great point with the ex-President of the League. That was 10 years ago. There wa3 then no railway beyond Riverlands, and there were no settlements except Blind River and North Bank. People thought there never would be a railway to Flaxbourno. One of the next things that happened was the falling in of the leases of tlieKaitarau Block" of Crown land, between Kaikoura and the Waiau, comprising 40,000 acres. Next was the acquisition of Scarborough in 1898. Then the agitation was concentrated upon the bridging of the Awatere, and that bridge was opened just five yexvn ago in October. The League set aboiit doing something else. Their ambition was to open up all the low lands. The agitation for the acquisition of Flaxbourne commenced, and, as they would recollect, the proceedings lasted nearly three years, and only concluded about two "years ago. All this had happened in ten years. The League's duty was to give the community a lead. They must look upon the League as a body of experts m agitation. They possessed no funds whatever; the small revenue barely paid the printer's bill. He was therp to give the meeting a few ideas. Their nrst trouble was their isolation. Tho^ had a nice little province, but the population was only 15,000 or 16,000 altogether. His first suggestion was that they combine with Canterbury. The southern people had always been ready to meet them, but they had never been able to meet the Canterbury people. He felt sure that now they had got their Midland, tunnel contract let, they would join Marlborough, and once they got their support the movement would go with a swing. Up to the present they had always been afraid they would lose the Midland railway; now they were satisfied.

His second suggestion was this: Let the Public Works Department have their co-operative system wherever they liked, but not in Marlborough. (Applause.) As a free people they had a right, to- be governed as they pleased, and their mandate was-to let the line by contract. Thirdly, they must centre their energy upon the completion of the line between Ward and Domett. They must not go off into the shallows, and so lose power. They must not go for the Wairau Valley and Renwick lines, but in the meantime the Picton-Hurunui connection must be their aim. (Applause.) If they went off agitating for.a Tophouse connection with the West Coast, the ymight rest assured that not in their generation would the Government be prepared to construct a second railway to tlie Buller Valley. In the fourth place, they should never criticise the Midland line. He had twice crossed from Greymouth to Springfield^ and he admitted they deserved their railway. They should also leave the Otago Central alone. They must concentrate all their agitation upon their own line. In 16 or 18 months the North Island Trunk line would be completed. Modestly enough, the League had always contended that that was the most, important work, and should be finished first, but that the South Island Trunk line was the next in importance. Their policy must be to.help Canterbury with her railway to the JVest Coast, and to gain her aid for the East Coast line. Now, the distance from Domett (four miles south of Cheviot) and Seddon was, roughly, 100 miles. The estimated cost; according to Mr Blair's report, was about a million pounds. Mr C. V O'Connor had made it more. .' In conclusion, the President said there was now a new Ministry in- office, and a new.political era had opened out. although it was not their place to take part in politics, most of them must be of the opinion that in the new Ministers they possessed a capable, far-seeing body of men, who would, according to the way the people educated them, act fairly for all parts of the Colony. If they kept them in the blind, what need they expect? They were fair-minded men, and the district would get justice. It was now high time to appoint' th°. right class of men to urge upon the Government the claims of the district. The thanks of the League were due io the local bodies, who had on one oc- j casion born an expenditure of £30 on I behalf of agitation led by the League; also the press. They had done their best according to their lights. He said according to their lights, because sometimes they had said things; but it must be recollected that they were only individuals after, all. They had also criticised the work of the League as a whole. Now, they had a number of wealthy men, and he was going to make a suggestion. The League ha-1 transactions that would make very interesting reading, and at the same time educate - people to the rights of its" claims. His idea was that £50 or £100 should be spent in converting these records into booklet form, for distribution. They would sell very' ■well, arid help 'the movement. He also thanked the friends who had come all the way from Flaxbourne, Seddon and Picton. He moved : " That this public meeting of residents of Marlborough hereby places on record its impatience at the long-continued delay in ■;(!) the opening of the railway to Ward, and (2) the erection of the new Picton wharf." .

Mr E. H. Penny seconded the motion. He said he had been taken unawares, but could.say honestly and sincerely that he was in, accord with the object of the meeting. He had felt that the province ,had,^through isolation, greatly suffered in the past. The northern members of Parliament had combined for their own railway scheme, and.nearly completed it. The Canterbury and West Coast people had done the same, and the Otago members also made a: good tight set in the House. But they were isolated. He had told the late Col. Pitt that they were in this district like a voice crying in the wilderness, but they were going to cry until they were heard., (Applause). He only wished there were more in the hall.;to cry and make a noise. He had a phrase in his head, which he had used in agitating on this matter for the last-five years. "If you create facilities you stimulate production." He went on to1 show, 'how; the construction of the Manchester ship canal had given new life to the trade of the city and surroundings. Manchester had developed more in the past ten years than in a hundred years previously. It \vas a far cry from Manchester to Marlborough; but it was only a difference in degree. Look at the North Island; trunk line ! The progress t>f the country along that: line was marvellous. This province would share; a similar advantage if the railway were pressed forward. The wharf at Picton was a standing and lasting disgrace—(applause)— to those who had the power to put the matter right. Agitation had not been wanting, but nothing had resulted. He was glad there was an awakening in this place. He" hoped they would keep wide awake, and endeavour to move matters forward. He was heartily in accord with the resolution.

The motion was carried with enthusiasm. A DEPUTATION. His Worship the Mayor of Picton (Dr Redman) said that when a few days ago the Picton Borough Council received an invitation to come to Blenheim as a deputation they accepted it with pleasure. The Picton people had.all'along agitated for the construction of the South Main Trunk line, with Picton as the terminal port. Picton and Blenheim were nowadays able to work together in unity, and it was a good thing such a spirit existed. (Applause). In 1903 a conference of all the local bodies of Marlborough was held in Picton, and a strong deputation was sent over to Welington. The late' Premier had urged, that the Government should not be embarrassed in their endeavours to secure the Flaxbourne estate. Mr Seddon had promised that as soon as the estate was acquired the line would be carried on. That promise had not been fulfilled. The estimates from year to year showed that Marlborough had not—he said it advisedly—received justice. Not three months ago the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones had given the excuse for not proceeding with the railway that there was no money. When they read of such huge surpluses, they could take this answer and draw their own conclusions. (Applause). Referring to the Picton wharf, Dr Redman said it was probably good enough when it was first built—(A voice: It never was any good)—but now it was a wretched concern. There could be no hesitation in saying that the Government was drawing £2000 per annum profit from the Picton wharf, yet nothing was got in return. Referring to the Picton-Sed-don railway, he said the revenue, per annum was £20,000. It had increased 100 per cent_ in the last few years. It was to the interests of the people of Marlborough that the railway should

be pushed on to Ward at once. He thought they should back up.the movement amongst the Flaxbourne settlers. Let them go to Wellington, n°t as beggars, but as claimants for their just rights. The railway should be pushed on as far as Cheviot.- He moved "That it be an instruction from this meeting to the Marlborough Land and Railway League that they take steps to cause delegates from the various public bodies of Marlborough and other influential residents to proceed to Wellington to interview the Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Crown, urging upon them . the necessity for forthwith proceeding with the railway extension southward in Marlborough, and the provision of better wharfage .-at the northern terminus."

Mr Thompson, Secretary of the Flaxbourne Settlers' Association, m seconding the resolution! thanked the League for its assistance, and proceeded to state the case for the settlers on the route of the line. When the Flaxbourne people took up their holdings they were given to understand that the line would be pushed along immediately. This promise had not been fulfilled. The settlers desired, ultimately, the completion of the whole trunk line; but their first necessity Was to have it constructed to Ward. The settlers had gone on Flaxbourne when stock was dear, and most of them had lost three half-year-ly instalments of rent before any return from produce was secured. The Government should come to the assistance of the settlers at this critical time by pushing on'the line to Ward. The Blind River section might be opened within twelve months, and that would be of some benefit; but that was the best part of the road, and the benefit would not be fully felt until the railway was put through to Ward. He suggested that the Government be j urged to allow team-work to be done on the Ward end of the line, in order 'to encourage the settlers around the township site, by enabling them to earn a little, to remain on their holdings. The sections near Ward were very small, and the Land Board had recently decided that all settlers who did not reside on these small holdings must forfeit. That would be unjust, because the Government had promised the railway immediately after the acquirement of the estate, thus encouraging people to take up these sections. Now that the settlers on Flaxbourne saw that the Marlborough Land and Railway League was in earnest, they would give it more hearty support. Mr Thompson also referred to the fact that 4s per 100 was added to the cost of timber through the failure to put the line-through. The motion was carried. ■- The Chairman said he hoped they would that night devise some scheme whereby the railway would be put through to Ward within twelve months. THE GOVERNMENT'S BREACH'OF FAITH. Mr J. G. Armstrong referred to the Government's breach of faith with the Flaxbourne settlers and the people of Marlborough. The promise had been that, to make up for the two or three years' inaction on account of the purchase of Flaxbourne, there would be such a vote placed on the Estimates as, would build the railway to Ward in a short time.. What had happened? There had been actually men taken off the small gangs employed . He had heard a great deal that night aboui. the neglect of Marlborough in the way of public works; and much of the grumbling was from men who had al- | ways declared we had"got a good share. He would ask, when did they see their member pressing for anything for the province? (Laughter). He informed the meeting that the Government now proposed to discontinue the Seddon nursery, and' remove the plant and 'men to Rotorua. The meeting should protest against this further contemplated injustice. He referred to the problem of keeping the small holders of Flaxbourne on their sections. This point alone should appeal to the Government. As Chairman of the Awatere Road Board he need only point out how the roads would be spared by the railway to Ward. He also instanced the convenience to Flaxbourne grain-growers that would ensue, for more harvesting would be donej aiid machines would be kept going." At present threshing* mills could not be got to visit the place. He concluded by referring in forcible terms to the Picton wharf. It was useless relying upon Government promises. They must force their claims, by all legitimate means. (Applause). • I

Mr S. M. Neville said the was pleased to be on the platform, although he did not, agree with the League on all points. His idea was that the best connection Marlborough could have by railway was with the West Coast, where the route would be through Crown lands. What would they have to pay for compensation to rail through 100 miles of private land along the East Coast? 'Then there were the engineering difficulties of the East Coast. Why, the Kaitarau tunnel would be seven miles long

(A voice : No tunnel is required if the coast route is taken.)

Mr Neville : I knew the road before you were born. I have been told the tunnel from the Kaitarau to the Conway would be seven miles long. What was the use of saying the line was intended to go via Cheviot ? The Waiau bridge, as anyone who had seen it must know, had been constructed expressly to serve in the future for a railway crossing. He referred to the enormous expense, of road works already constructed along the precipitous East Coast. He went on to advocate the West Coast connection, where land at present was only 2s 6d per acre, cash price. The Railway League was too much like the Czar of Russia, who put his finger down and said : "Build me a railway from here to there."

Mr P. Meehan suggested that MiNeville, being diametrically opposed to the League's objects, should move an opposition motion without delay.

Mr Neville said he was not against the League. All he said was that the Government should not be dictated to in the matter of routes.--

Mr R. D. Martin strongly urged that the district had been neglected in the East. He quoted from a speech made y Mr Davey, M.H.R., showing how Marlborough had for the last four years only got £70,000 altogether, whereas-Auckland had got £1,321,266, Taranaki £314,658, Hawke's Bay £223,177, Wellington £1.266,359, Nelson £428,594. Westland £274,330, Canterbury £692,655, and Otago and Southland £1,089,141. The Hon. MiMills, their Member, had pointed out that the district had now only one voice in 80, as against one in eight while he was in the Ministry. They would all agree with him, he thought, that the district had got very little even during Mr Mills's connection with the Cabinet.

Mr Wooding, Flaxbourne, in handing to tKe secretary of the League a

list of new members, put in a word for the Flaxbourne railway. Mr W. Miller, who said he had been a settler on Flaxbourne, and knew something of. the unfair treatment of those Crown tenants, urged the necessity of the railway extension to Ward, which should be the cardinal plank with the coming deputation to Wellington. Let them go and meet Ministers face to face, and they might get something definite. v Dr. Redman, replying to the discussion on his resolution, said they wished to see railway extension and wharf improvement go on together, because they were under the same Department. The wharf would take two or three years to erect,' and the sooner it was started the better. The Government was very fond of teaching trade methods, etc., but they failed to follow their own teaching. The resolution was carried. The President of the League replied to the remarks of Mr Armstrong about men who now complained of the neglect of the district by the Government being the very people who had always contended- that Marlborough had got her fair share. He knew that was a thrust at himself. What he had contended, merely in the way of a political argument, had been that in money for land Resumption and settlement Marlborough had got a fair share in the past. Mr Penny, in proposing a vote oi thinks to the Chairman, made a reference to Mr Neville's remarks. It was out of place at that meeting to urge any other railway but the East Coast line, though it were well to keep the arguments for- a Tophouse line to the West Coast in view tor the future. He had no doubt the time would come when it would be seen that the Wairau River, high up the valley, could supply power for the electrification of such a line.

The meeting then concluded