THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1009. THE NORTHERN ROUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13983, 12 February 1909, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1009. THE NORTHERN ROUTE.

When* Mr. R. McKenzie arrives in Auckland his immediate duty will be to decide, definitely and finally, upon the route to be followed by the Main Trunk North of Auckland. In our provincial disputes we have hitherto had the melancholy satisfaction of knowing that the Government lias been quite satisfied to sit down comfortably to wait until our opposing factions have exhausted their vehemence, and can agree as to what shall be done. This has enabled the spending of money to be delayed for years, and there has been a strange theory in Wellington that money not spent in developing the North is money saved, and that only the districts directly affected suffer. Such a theory is wholly erroneous, nor will the Minister for Railways satisfy any considerable section of our provincial population if he should apply it to the dispute which has arisen in connection with the route to be followed by the Northern line. We would not say that when an important district feels strongly that it has reasonable grounds for urging an alteration in a contemplated railway route, it should not take energetic steps to bring the question before the Government; nor that another district which has what it regards as equally convincing reason for opposing the suggested alteration should not as energetically defend its interests. But we do say, unhesitatingly and emphatically, that neither of the contesting parties is justified in resorting to any form of stonewalling or in carrying an agitation to undue and unpatriotic lengths. In the present case we would scrupulously avoid any attempt to influence Mr. McKenzie's decision, excepting that it may fairly be pointed out that the burden of proof in such disputations should always lie upon those who desire to change the route. This will be freely admitted by all fairminded men, even by generous advocates of the change. Postulating this, we must urgently press upon Mr. McKenzie the great necessity of giving an immediate decision, and

upon both parties the duty of accepting such a decision as final and binding.

There was never yet any railway route laid out in the world which satisfied everybody, or which interested districts would not have altered in places had they been able to do so. This is in the nature of things, for it is to every man's advantage to have a railway as conveniently situated as possible. Excepting in the cases where engineering influences absolutely dominate the situation, and govern the exact direction of a line, there is always doubt as to what is the best to be done, and the ultimate route is inevitably the best compromise which can be arrived at. An unfortunate feature of Governmental control of ; lway-building is that political influences often affect railway construction, both in the primary decision to build a line, and in the secondary decision as to the route it shall take. In the case of the North of Auckland, which is one of the most urgently needed of lines and one of the most profitable, as section after I section is opened, there is no suggestion that political influence is i giving it to a region which cannot make it pay. Nor should there be any suggestion that any influence, other than that of an honourable and practical common sense, will decide the present difficulty. We do not envy Mr. R. McKenzie his task, fur he is quite certain to disappoint very bitterly one side or the other, and no kindly man likes to do that. Bui, it is a Minister's duty to take such responsibility, and we believe that a prompt and definite decision, which becomes the key to the official policy, will be accepted in a very friendly spirit by Auckland City and the Northern Peninsula generally. For it is quite inconceivable that a matter over which such keen differences have arisen has not two sides, for either of which much can be said. And it is beyond all question that these differences affect comparatively few people, while the general question of pushing on with the line affects us all. We repeat, therefore, that above all other considerations is the necessity for a final decision to be immediately arrived at, so that no delay may take place, and so that the much-pro-mised increase of speed in the building of the Main Trunk North of Auckland may not be dissipated by bickerings which the Government can and should close at once. Whatever Mr. McKenzie's decision may be, it should be loyally and cordially accepted, out of regard for general interests that are very much greater than any parochial interests can possibly be