NORTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12833, 5 April 1905, Page 6

NORTH ISLAND RAILWAYS.

MAIN TRUNK AND MANAWATU . . LINES. DISCUSSION BY WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington, Tuesday. At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, it was decided to urge the Government to acquire the Wellington-Mana-watu Company's line, and to proceed with the completion of the North' Island Main Trunk line at a much more rapid rate, than hitherto. During the discussion one member said the Manawatu line could be acquired by the Government at any time if 12 months' notice was given, but the Government would not acquire it so long as the Main Trunk lino remained unfinished. When that lino bad been constructed, the Government would be bound to take over the Manawatu line. They would not be able to do without it. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT,] Wellington, Tuesday. Some attention was' directed to the North Island Main Trunk railway at today's annual meeting'of the Chamber 01 Commerce. . , The Acting-President, in his address, stated that the progress d this. work ha-' been .disappointingly slow. #-<" Mr. John Dutliic-, •3&..H.R"., who visited the works iffl January last, complained that Wellington was being treated unfairly. At this end of the line only 45 miles had been opened, and every mile was paying its way, and many centres had been opened in) as*the result "of the construction of the line. At the northern end. on the other hand, 75 miles had been constructed, through land which was only third-rate as compared with that which had been opened up at this end. "Wo are all too apathetic here,'' said Mr. Duihie. "It may be said that you have your members of Parliament, but unless your members are backed up by an fttcftre public opinion, they cannot have that influence in the House that they ought to have." He thought that the fact that the line had been carried so much further at the northern end was due to the activity of the Auckland commercial community. The meeting decided to urge the Government to carry on the work of construction more speedily, and to ask other chambers of commerce and members of Parliament to support this resolution.