WAIROA ISOLATED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 121, 23 May 1919, Page 1

WAIROA ISOLATED.

(United Fresß - WELLINGTON, TJbas Day.,; A large deputation, representing. prac*. ticaliy all the local bodies -and. pro4pt<Bf* ■ in the Wairoa district, waited on Sir Wm, Fraser and the Hons. Macllbiia|df Willard, Myers, and Guthrie this morn* ing, requesting rail connection between the town of Wairoa and W ' distance of 33 miles, in consequence ox harbour works at Wairoa Having aOtscf up, making it practically impossibly for ; shipping. ■ ‘ r v ;.. | The deputation represented that there | were 160,000 freight carcases ' at ;/ |he | meat freezing works, which was impossible to get away, and that the <district was without supplies of the necessary timber and iron stores. TheMttt; ister of Munitions had arranged 'licit. ■supplier of coal to keep the freezing works going, but the utmost 'difficulty had been experienced in* getting,^tHo ! coal ashore and over bad roads to the ! works. ♦ - } Sir Wm. Fraser, after disclaiming 1 | Government responsibility for. : ore of wolrks at Wairoa, and expressing . , his personal belief in the Waitokapu. ' scheme, said that a week or tenidaya . ago, he authorised a flying b% detailed • survey to be made of the proposed route lof the railway. This was the finat in* | stance, to h ; s knowledge, where a. de- . tailed survey had been commenced., his " j fore the Ime was authorised by- Ptoh^; ' ment. He pointed out that the* r®lwa^ : j could not be commenced without.; „■' (liament’s sanction dr a BEl‘-’on t|i6 jeet. He promised to suppoft ' thes-Bin in Cabinet. Sir William Fraser ackpow.ledged the offer of the Natives. and; ' other owners of !and!s conceded,-"to give the nossary land along the . Messrs Wilford, Myers, Gnthne, and Mac Donald also spoke in favour of, thu scheme, and' indicated tha+; they-wwo i prepared to support the proposed • fmo ■. - j in Cabinet and in the House.