EAST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18025, 25 February 1922, Page 10

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

'WAIHI-tAURAtIGA SECTION. THE MINISTER'S POLICY. IMPORTANCE. GE THE LINE. POSITION TO BE REVIEWED. A deputation from the Auckland Railways and Development League met the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, yesterday, to urge that work should be pursued on tie WaihiTauran/ja section of the East Coast Main Trunk line.' Mr, V. H. Potter, M.P.,

introduced the speakers, Air. P. E. Cheal congratulated the Minister upon his policy of concentration, which, ho naid, had long been advocated by the league. Alter referring to the work on the Northern line, he expressed hope that tho branch- connecting the Wairoa River with tho Main Trunk line would not be too long delayed. The. omission of the Waihi-Tauranga section of. tho East Coast lino from the list of those to be pressed forward had caused considerable disappointment. Since tho first sod was turned some ten yew* ago, very little had been done. The section must be completed to give through counectiou. Whilo they were not asking for it, it had to be remembered that the Paeroa-Pokeno loop was a work of considerable importance. There were about 650 miles of line in the Auckland Province, and oyer 200 miles wero disconnected pieces. Until they were linked Up, the same results as those accruing from the Main Trunk between Auckland and Wellington could not be expected. If lines were joined up to give full connection with Wellington via Napier and via Stratford, there would be grew developments to follow. WWk for Unemployed Miners. The purpose' of the deputation, however, had bewi to urge that the men thrown out <if employment at VVaihl should ba employed on plate-laying and ballasting on the line -from Waihi to Tauranga. 'As Mr, D. Donaldson, Mayor of Waihi, was not able to be present, they had not full information on the point. Thov would therefore devote their attention to supporting the request from Taurainga for the prosecution of that section from the Tauranga end. While there was a loss on railway workings, that was not this case in the North Island, and Auckland contributed nearly onehalf of the revenue from tho North Island. Thi>v were not, therefore, coming hat ia hand, hut suggesting ffhat they believed would be a good business proposition. Mr. F. Can- Rc-Uett said the impression was that the land between Waihi and Taursinga was of poor'quality, but facts had proved this to be wrong. Tha setters placed on the Waihi Plains were making good. ... Mr.' A. Rowlands expressed appreciation of the league and the business people of the Minister's policy of vigorously pressing on the most important lines. The work he had already done in the North would always remain to his credit. Mr. John Gaoghey and Mr.. G. M. Fowlds also urged the importance of the worn. The Minister's Eeply/ Th« Minister, replying, expressed appreciation of what had been said concerning his policy of railway construction. He welcomed opinions and criticism of the work of hfe. department. The peaits touched' on were of great importance. Auckland held out prospects of development by roads and railways greater than those' in any other part of the Dominion Its development was later frora i varioui causes. The arrears were now '&ein§ over taken. He-did not wish to criticise hii predecessors, because conditions changec so rapidly. Road and motor traffic wen threatening the prosperity of some lines. That was why he had resolved to determine the commercial possibilities of every proposed line before there were any :further authorisation. In regard to North Auckland h> believed the Golden Stairs* tunnel would be finished before the heavy construction work was done outside. More-men would have to be put on to complete it in 12 months, however. There were 11 excavators - at-work there, and after them the consolidation took a. little longer than with horse and scoop. 'As soon as the ground settled trains should run through, even if - only public works trains. Already stock was being taken from Waiotira to Otiria. There seemed little doubt that the same thing could be done from Waikiekie. It was all a matter of finance, and if at March 31 matters were in good trim he would press along vigorously. He hoped in April to enable the railway people to take over the line to .Donnelley's Crossing. The permanent bridges were not in yet, but a service could be run through Dargaville. Importance of East Coast Line. The importance of the East Coast line was realised, continued the Minister. It must, come, for the sake of the development to follow. When he took office arrangements had been made for the construction of the line to Taneatua, and so much work had been done that it would not have been sound business to change over to the Waihi section, for all the plant would be required at once oh the new section. To complete the WaihiTauranga section would cost £400,000, The wisdom of carrying' out the worl was not questioned, Because the country must have connected lines. In this instance the quickest'way was to open U{ the - Rangitaiki Swamp, the Wajmana Plain, the country as far a* Opotiki, and the traffic from Gisborne via Motu, ami permit the traffic to be -carried by sea from Tauranga. It would not be sound to change over to Waihi and let the othei line remain unfinished. The better plan • Was to'finish it and then review she position. If there was not enough money to carry on' both sections—and that was th« present position—it was better to proceed vigorously with the.one. Three Lines Should be Proceeding.

So far as the bridges on the Atbenree section were concerned, h9 was avoiding expenditure on bridges, and buildings as far as possibk., because the money so spent would largely go outside the country. He was anxious to proceed,with as much work as possible at present. No 6ns knew what the position, regarding unemployment would be this winter and his endeavour war to make provision in that direction. People were complaining about the number of votes appearing on the estimates for railway construction. As a matter of fact, there were but three lines which should be proceeding at the present time, the North Auckland line, the Midland .line in the' South Island, and the Waikokopu branch. The remainder were those to which the unemployed could be diverted if necessary. They were near enough to the centres of population to render that possible. Road votes did not offer the same opportunity, for the roads required were much further in- the back blocks. It was the bare duty of, the Government to make provision for unemployment should it occur. There was, he understood, some question of unemployment at Waihi. He could not tell them what the exact position of work was there, or how much money he might have to spend. The work to be done immediately there would be the construction of bridges, and the ballasting of the line, as far as Athenree. He would consider how that would work in, and Jet then, know. fl e wanted to Ret to Tancatua ana then. consider how the ftl"W "OH best be used. He might have to work in the Waihi end if $f„? Ju ™T vhymmi near at hand. S h • don6 l wl ?, en the «»* arrived The surrounding land would come into cultivation when there was access to I tiL Z T n r "-T as aTai ! able : He could 04 no definite promise in regard to the line from Waihi to Tauranga, because he wished to know exactly where he &S& ?i? M nld Ti du fy" the question fally with Sir Bonaldson, who was wg to.Awfcte&d. to meet bim.