MAIN TRUNK AND NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11826, 2 December 1901, Page 7

MAIN TRUNK AND NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAYS.

TO TIIE EDITOR. Sir, Before the opening of tho Parliamentary session before last Messrs. Fowlds, Napier, and Massey by request met the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Napier said his chief object would be to complete the Main Trunk railway, and see that the large assets of tho railway were secured to it. Mr. Fowlds said if £250,000 was voted for that railway, and was not expended upon it, he would feel bound to oppose the Government in the next session. Mr. Massey said ho hoped his colleagues in the Auckland province would not lose eight of the large assets of the Main Trunk railway, as the proceeds, if properly handled, would construct the Central and Stratford lines twice over.

These members were backed up with petitions from 33,000 of their constituents, and from the North. What was the result? Only £130,000 was voted for the Main Trunk railway, and only £15,000 for the North Auckland. Of the Central vote only £109,000 was expended. Did Mr. Fowlds go into opposition in last session? No. A meeting of tho Chamber of Commerce and the Railway League was held to express their indignation at the unjustness of the vote, compared with votes for the Otago Central of £100,000, with only 2000 residents on the line of route, while about 50,000, including Maoris, are settled on the North line.

A resolution was proposed that an indignation meeting should bo held. A Government supporter, although a member of the league for tho Northern railway, proposed an amendment that tho time was inopportune ; the indignation meeting should be held just, before tho meeting of the next session of Parliament; but tho staunch Government supporter, having averted the indignity to Government, took good care that no indignation meeting was held. During the last session the Railway League forwarded petitions from over 22,000 persons, praying that justice should be done to those railways. But only £160,000 was voted for tho Main Trunk railway, and £15,000 again to the North, while Otago Central received £100,000. Stung with the injustice, a meeting of all the Auckland organisations was called to express their indignation, but in this instance, as in the last, Government supporters got up a quarrel to frustrate the object- of the meeting. The secretary of the league intimated that it was owing to a telegram from Wellington in their pockets. The Auckland provincial residents should take notice that party interests and Southern interests take precedence of public interests should any of them desire a seat in Parliament. Now what should be done in the interest of the 55,000 petitioners entrusted to tho league? They are bound to take action to express their indignation, and demand justice from the present _or future Government. The following organisations should be invited to attend a meeting:— Railway Leagues, Main Trunk and North: the seven branches of the Railway League, who petitioned Parliament to do justice to tho North railway; the Chamber of Commerce: the various branches of the Farmers' Union in the North Island; tho Mayor and councillors of Auckland, Parnell, New Lynn. Newmarket; the Mayors and councillors of all municipalities in North Island; chairmen of County Councils and Highway Boards; the Women's Political League, etc. The meeting to be held in Auckland at such date as will suit all attendants. That the resolution passed at that meeting, together with a full statement of the position of the assets of the Auckland Central Main Trunk railway, the Acts undor which the funds of the railway , were diverted and how administered, be drawn up by a committee appointed, published, and a copy sent to every member of the Ministry, and of both Houses of Parliament. —I am, etc., Observer.