PAEROA-POKENO RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20256, 16 May 1929, Page 9

PAEROA-POKENO RAILWAY.

"MOST IMPORTANT LINK." CLAIMS FOR CONSTRUCTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] MERCER, Wednesday. "The most important of the railway proposals," was the description applied to the Paeroa-Pokeno link by Mr. A. W. Hall, M.P. for IlauraUi. in introducing a deputation 011 the subject to the Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, at. Mercer this evening. Mr. Hall said the matter had been urged upon other members of the Cabinet because it was desired that all should realise the importance and value of the railway. Speaking on behalf of the Fokeno Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. Woodcock said the lino would avoid 44 miles of dead haulage, would save two Lours* travelling and would relievo tho present congestion at Frank ton and Momnsville. It was confidently claimed the railway would pay from tho outset and would open up "the Hauruki Plains for greater settlement. The work would also help considerably to absorb the unemployed. In reply the Minister said he had not had an opportunity of-forming an opinion of tins class of country the proposed railway would open up, but he accepted the statement that it was land that would provide produco which would he profitable lor the railways to transport. As other members of the Cabinet had been approached 011 the question Mr. Forbes undertook to make himself conversant with the data relating to the costs of construction and other aspects of the scheme. Beyond that he did not desire to go at present.