EAST COAST RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 10

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

THE EXTENSION QUESTION. MR. COATES' ATTITUDE. / V - • •• ■ 1 " • j ; • WHAKATANE BRANCH LlfiE* "■ ' :' v 'X'.'v. v : /'" [B* TKLEGRAMI.—OWS OORBBSPOWOTWT. ] •'•v, - TAIDBAIfGi. Friiay' 'ln a letter ,tq the Bay of Plenty Development League /regarding., the Opotiki-Taneatua' section of the East Coast Main Tronic railway, Mr. Coatea . says:— ' "In ruply in your letter with reference to the continuation of;, the line beyond Taneatua toward OpotUri, I have to advise you that the position is not much altered since my last, memo to you explaining that I would not be able to 'proceed with the construction of this line until the completion of the whole length of linebetweea Waihi and Taneatua was nearer at hand. Ton will readily understand that this' is a long length of line to have under construction. , and the annual expenditure on it is very large. I think it would be much preferable to havethis length of line nearc* a position in which we can run traffic over it with some hope of making it pay its way than to launch out into an additional length of line, necessitating not only considerably greater expenditure per annum, but also a much greater cost in attempting to run traffic over the already partially completed t line. This matter, however, will have my careful consideration with framing this year's estimates." The Minister, in another letter,! states: "I have to advise you that the question of a branch line to Whakatane is still under consideration, and until such time as I can ascertain definitely what financial provision shall be made for railways this year I am afraid that I cauinot give yod a definite answer. . This railway, however, along with others, will Jjb taken into consideration when framing my estimates for this ye&fc,"