THE PAEROA-WAIHI LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12241, 9 April 1903, Page 4

THE PAEROA-WAIHI LINE.

We are told that the economic administration of railway construction work does not allow of the PaeroaWaihi line being proceeded with from both ends. But there are not enough words in the English language to deal fully, succinctly and forcibly with the waste and maladministration visible in that direction. For this line is assured of a profitable traffic from the moment it is opened. There will be no waiting for trade to expand, for industry to be built up, for the population to grow. The first train will be rushed by waiting goods and passengers, almost as was the first tram on Queen-street. Yet this great mining centre of Waihi, which is forced to spend thousands of pounds yearly upon haulage, upon road maintenance, upon inferior transit methods, is treated as though it were a doubtful customer, whom the Eailway Department hesitated to do business with. On the twelve miles of construction still to be completed there are no less than three bridges, of which only one is even half constructed ; the other two have not even had tenders called for them". It appears to us to be an astonishing thing that while hundreds of thousands of pounds are wasted on Southern railways which it is notorious cannot nay for many years, if ever, that such a line as the Paeroa- is so openly and flagrantly neglected. There is not a man, woman or child in Waihi who is not aware of what the advent of the line means to the place, and yet the Government dawdles alor.g and talks " economy" as a reason for not starting construction from the Waihi end, regardless of the waste of waiting revenue which must continue until'traffic is opened. The Paeroa-Waihi line ought to be worked at from both ends and from the middle as well, if construction can thereby be hastened. But to hasten the line is apparently the last thing sought by the Administration. Waihi is not in the right island to get Administrative sympathy.