NEW RAILWAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14530, 18 November 1910, Page 6

NEW RAILWAYS.

AUTHORISATION BILL. THE EAST COAST LINE. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] •' Wellington, Thursday, k The Minister for Public Works (Hon. R. McKenzie) to-night moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill. Mr. Massey (Leader of tho Opposition) regretted that a number of branch lines had >• not been included. Sir Joseph Ward: The Waiuku line? Mr. Massey: Yes, and I hope that before 0 next session the Prime Minister will come along and see the land through which this lino would pas."?. Then he will be convinced of tho advisability of starting it. Mr. Maseey also mentioned the Opunake and Tuapeka lines as amongst those which had special claims to construction, t Mr. Ross (Pahiattia) asked why the Huntly-Awaroa line was being constructed. ) Last year it waa arranged tho local bodies e should find £3000, and tho Taupiri Coal Company £2000 for the bridge in connection ) with the line. Now the Government was a taking the entire financial responsibility on |. its shoulders. He and other members had been urging the Government to construct 0 lines on which 4.per cent, was guaranteed. They had been refused, yet this bridge was being constructed for the benefit of the £ Taupiri Coal Company. Mr. Massey: It is in opposition to them, t ■ Mr. Ross said it was a suspicious circumstance that Mr. Maesey was in league with ® the Government in this matter. Tho 3 bridge was going to benefit a monopoly like 1 the Taupiri Coal Company, which evidently i had some secret influence. I Mr. Massey: Good gracious; it is dead against them.. j Mr. Greenslade: So it is. Mr. Ross said he doubted if the Minister 1 for Public Works even knew where Awaroa ' was. t Hon. R. McEenzie: You are on a fishing ' expedition now. ~ Mr. Poland (Ohinemuri) complained of the non-pushing on of the East Coast line I from Waihi. The population of Ohinemuri . was producing more wealth than any other ( similar population in the Dominion. Last [ year 2500 miners produced over £1,000,000 worth of gold. The country was productive, and if it was not yet too late an extension from the Waihi end should be authorised , this year. The station at Waihi had been put at some distance from the town for the express purpose of meeting the requirements of this extension. This was a great inconvenience to the people of the town. Mr. Poland drew attention to the somersault of the Government in connection with the Tauranga-Te Puke section. He also urged the claims of the Paeroa-Pokeno line, This was not so urgent, but it was important. It would open up the 1000 acres of the Hauraki Plains _ which were now being drained. Referring to the Huntly line Mr. Poland said there had been ho demand for the line though there had been for the bridge. This was a line in connection with which the betterment principle should be introduced!. If the Minister designed to utilise the line for the purpose! of starting a State coal mine, the design was commendable, as this would combat tho monopoly which had raised the price of coal by six shillings a ton during the past five years. He would like to know how much private and how ' much Crown land would be opened up by this line. I Mr. Herries (Tauranga) also expressed disappointment that the East Coast line was not to be continued from the Waihi end, and urged that this should bo done at the earliest possible date. He also urged the claim of the Paeroa-Pokeno section. He wondered at the apathy of the Auckland people. They were allowing the Wellington people to take trade whidh should rightfully belong to Auckland. He did not know what tho Auckland people were thinking about, but his impression was that the Wellington people were too smart for them, and this was the first step towards tapping the trade of Gisborne towards Wellington. He hoped the line towards Auckland would not be stopped at Motu and then be prosecuted towards Napier, and the connection. with Auckland be left to the period of the Greek calends. Mr. Jennings (Taumarunui) expressed regret that there was no mention of the Raetihi or Kawhia lines. Surveys had been promised for both these lines, "and if there was one line that would pay it would be a lino from Kawhia to Te Awamutu or Otorohanga. Mr. Jennings also advocated the starting of the Stratford-Ongarue railway from the Ongarue end. He intended to test, the feeling of the House by moving an amendment. Mr. Greenslade (Waikato) said this bridge had been promised many years ago. The river was dangerous to work, and many horses had been drowned in carrying on the traffic. The construction of tho bridge would be one of the severest blows that could be struck at the monopoly of the Taupiri Coalmining Co. A Plea for light railway lines was entered by Mr. lioas (Pahiatua). He complained of the lavish expenditure on the Otago Central Railway. There were on the line, he said, good sheds capable of storing the whole of the grain that could be produced in twenty years. CONSTRUCTION OMITTED. The following telegrams have passed between Mr. G. L. Peacocke, chairman of the Auckland Railways League, and Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P.,:-To Mr. Myers, Wellington, from Mr. Peacocke : While total amount votes for North Auckland, East Coast, and Ongarus-Stratford lines same as asked for by Railways League, please note that construction work from Waihi and Ongarue ends not provided for; Wa-ihi-Tauranga section apparently not even to be authorised." To Mr. G. L. Peacocke, Auckland, from Mr. Myers: "While amount votes for North Auckland, East Coast, and Ongarue-Stratford lines matter satisfaction, intend moving in direction obtaining construction also Waihi and Ongarue ends, and obtaining vote Tauranga section."