NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16796, 12 March 1918, Page 7

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY.

Sir,l notice in the Herald of the sth inst. that Mr. Stallworthy has taken up the cudgels in defence of the Bickerstaff deviation. First, as to mv statement that the deviation was iniquitous, my reason for making that statement, was because a Committee of the House | ordered a further inquiry into the matter, | and tlio Hon. R. McKenzio ignored that - order, and went on in spite of the over-' ■whelming evidence against him. Time has undoubtedly proved that a great mistake whs made, delaying the lino at least six years, at the cost of an onormous sum. lam sorry I have hurt Mr. Stall, worthy's feelings by reflecting on those I who supported this route, but facts pro- 1 claim against them so loudly I could not do otherwise. Hut what about the re-1 flection cast upon Messrs. Knorpp, Hales,' Holmes, and Vickerman, the best engineering brains of New Zealand? . lould a laymau, by going over the ground 1 one day only, see. more than these men ! with all their engineerine skill and knowledge could discover after prolonged and careful study? Time has fully i vindicated them, notwithstanding the fact that the Hon. J. G. Ward, Mr. Mc« j Nab, and Mr. Fowlds—all good men in' their particular line—went over the ground and took a different v view. Mr. Stall-1 worthy says Mr. Massey did not oppose' the western route, and that I stood practically alone. If ho will look up (Hansard, vol. 149, page 70, he will dis- 1 cover that when I divided the House on ■ the question 23 members, including Mr. I Massey, followed mo into -tho lobby. ] Mr. Stallworthy accuses me of saying that " if Mr. V. Reed had supported mo , tho line would have been completed to. the North before now." I stated, "that if Mr. Reed had supported me at the right time, and the lino had gone via Bryndewyn, there would have been noj 20-mile gap to-day." I presume if Mr. 1 Reed had taken up a strong stand and' opposed the Government on this question i it might have altered its attitude. If Mr. Stallworthy knew the great difficulties the Minister for Public Works, the engineers, the workmen, and all concerned have had to encounter in this treacherous country during the last six or seven years, I feel sure he would not have written the last paragraph of hi» letter. I opposed the deviation because I knew it was a huge mistake, but have I worked most harmoniously with Mr. I Coatee and Mr. Reed in getting the line pushed on to the Far North, and will 1 continue to do so. The Minister for 1 Public Works has done his best in tho ' matter, although he had such a terrible legacy left. him. However, being unable to make progress at the southern end, he is pushing the northern end towards McCarroll's Gap as fast as possible, but a 20-mile gap still stares him in the faco, which 1 again repeat would not have been there lv>', for the six years' delay through licke' staff. F. Mandek.