THE EAST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15349, 9 July 1913, Page 6

THE EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Sir, —Allow me to congratulate you upon your outspoken article in to-day's llkraxi) in reference to the East Coast railway. In th j opinion of every man who knows anything about the vast extent of good country which would be thrown open to profitable settlement and become wealth-produc-ing, to the great advantage not only of Auckland, but of the whole Dominion, by the rapid construction of this line, you are absolutely right in. the attitude you take up on this question. In the autumn ol 1911 the Auckland Railways League, impressed with the general apathy of public, Parliament, and Government, and the apparent want of knowledge of the immense productive capabilities of the Bay of Plenty district and its hinterland, organised an exploring trip right through from Waihi to Opotiki. Leading Auckland citizens, and every member of Parliament throughout New Zealand, was circularised, and invited to accompany our party, free of cost to themselves. Seven or eight Parliamentary representatives availed themselves of the invitation, amongst them Mr. W. H. Herries, our present Minister for Railways. Of Parliamentary representatives, outside Auckland Province, only two came with us, namely, Mr. Okey, of Taranaki, and Mr. W. T. Jennings, then member for the Taumaninui electorate. Owing to the hearty co-operation of the local railway leagues and settlers all along the route, the trip was a .great success!, and in the week at our disposal an immense tract lof country was seen. Our itinerary after arriving at Waihi was through Atheuree, Katikati, To Puna, Tauranga, Te Puke, and Matata. "From the latter* place, by motor-launch, we traversed the whole of the rich alluvial lands, comprising many thousands of acres, known by the misleading name of the Rangitikei Swamp. This is really rich fern country, quite easily drained, as much of it has been already, with splendid results in stock-carrying capacity. Then from Te Teko, Opouriau, and Taneatua were visited, land capable of growing maize at the rate of from 60 to 100 bushels to the acre, with proportionate capabilities for dairy farming, which is becoming the favourite industry at present. Then further inland the Waimanu Block, acquired some years ago by the lite Government under the Land for Settlements Act, was visited, and its flourishing condition noted. Here, according to prearrangement, the party were met with horses and coaches from Opotiki, where, after several hours' journey through much useful bush country, we arrived about dusk. The town was decorated with bunting, and a brass band welcomed the arrival of our party, and that evening at a crowded meeting in the public hall speaker after speaker of the visiting party of, members of Parliament expressed their amazement at the enormous extent of magnificent country lying isolated and comparatively undeveloped for want of being linked up with the general railway system of the country. Mr. Okey, a practical farmer from the fertile Taranaki lands, was particularly enthusiastic in his endorsement of the action of the league in pressing for the energetic construction of the East Coast' railway connecting Gisborne with Auckland and the rest of the North Island Centres, via Waihi and Opotiki.

The Hon. Mr. Herries, of course, has for years been thoroughly cognisant of the national importance of this line, and it is perhaps unfortunate for the country that the portfolio of Public Works was not allotted to him when the present Cabinet was formed. However that may be, the Railways League has done everything that was possible to arouse effective public interest in the prosecution of the East Coast railway. It is without doubt the most important public work clamouring for fulfilment to-day, and it was a great disappointment when work at the Waihi end was closed down on the coming into office of the present Minister for Public Works. It. was with great difficulty, after persistent efforts, quite useless until Sir Joseph Ward returned from England, that the Ward Administration was induced to begin the work at Waihi, although Parliament had voted £15,000 for it the previous year. The Hon. R. McKenzie, although' he had previously publicly condemned what lie aptly termed "stump railways," preferred to spend money on the commencement of an isolated section from the Mount at the head of Tauranga Harbour to Te Pukethus contriving to keep the East Coast districts isolated from Auckland and the rest of Now Zealand as long as_ possible. But we did not expect, when an* Auckland representative became Premier, and another Auckland member became a Minister for Railways, that the progress of what you justly' describe as "this long-delayed and grossly-neglected railway" would again be blocked by suspending the prosecution of the work at the Waihi end. To squander money on what is admittedly the "ghastly blunder" of the Otira. Tunnel, when a line like the East Coast, railway is staring us in the face as a business proposition crying oat for immediate accomplishment, is an insult to common sense, and a disgrace to our Statesmanship. If public economic reasons compel a reduction in public works expenditure, why not concentrate what financial resources are available for the purpose upon obviously profitable undertakings, such as the Auckland to Gisborne line', with the Paeroa-Pokeno loop-line across the fertile and dead level Hauraki Plains thus shortening the total length of line bv 44 miles? Instead of that, apparently Parliament is to be asked to sanction the throwing of good money after bad into the egregious folly of the Otira Tunnel. The question is, will Parliament consent to do it? Gkrald L. Peacock,*:, Chairman Auckland Railways League.