RAILWAY LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22850, 4 October 1937, Page 13

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PAEEOA TO rOKENO

PROMISE OF COMPLETION GRATIFICATION EXPRESSED [BV TELF.CRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PAEROA, Sunday The definite announcement of tho Government that the Paeroa-Pokeno railway is to be proceeded with has been received with enthusiasm in Paeroa, and practically all business men in the town arc looking forward to the completion of a project which has for over 20 years been advocated by the Paeroa Borough Council, the Ohiner.i'.iri County Council, and tho Paeroa Chamber of Commerce.

Several years ago a railway league was formed in Paeroa to press for tho construction of the line. The league was not confined to local institutions, but had the active support of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the New Zealand Herald, Farmers' Union, aud many other local bodies in Auckland and the area to be traversed by the new line. Tho towns in the Bay of Plenty have joined in the agitation, realising that the shorter route between the Bay of Plenty and Auckland City was going to mean a great saving in freight charges and time. Early Start Requested

"Paeroa people are naturally pleased to learn that £75.000 had been placed on the Public Works Estimates for expenditure during the current financial

year on the Paeroa-Pokeno line, and especially to know that the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. It. Semple, had stated that the Government intended to go ahead with the work," said the Mayor of Paeroa, Mr. W. Marshall. "As six months of the financial

year has already passed, it would appear necessary to make an early start if the vote is to be fully expended this year, and in anticipation I have wired the Minister expressing the hope that he will personally turn the first sod at Paeroa at an early date." "Throughout the long years during which the project has been discussed," Mr. Marshall said, "Paeroa people have never doubted that the line would some day be built. We think, of course, that it will benefit Paeroa, and that it will assist in maintaining the steady progress which has been evident here for some years. It will also be of great value to the East Coast and to the Auckland Province generally in aiding increased production and development. Assistance Appreciated

"In carrying out this work the Government will not only be providing employment, which will be of great benefit to the province, but will create a national asset equal to its cost.

"To-day one's thoughts turn with appreciation to many who through the years have supported this project," continued Mr. Marshall, "chief among whom are the Auckland Railway League, which did much valuable work in tbe early years, and the Nkw Zealand Herald, which has consistently and strongly advocated the wor.k for over 20 years, and which has always given prominence and support" to our local agitation and effort. During the past 15 years in which I have been Mayor of Paeroa, I recall with appreciation the aid and support given by past members of Parliament for this district and many organisations and public bodies, but there has never been no more enthusiastic advocate than the present member, Mr. J. Thorn, and we can rest assured that he will use every- possible means of pushing the project to its consummation."

TE AROHA OPINIONS GENERAL BENEFIT EXPECTED [by XEI/KPRAPH —OWN correspondent] TE AROHA, Saturday The Mayor of Te Aroha, Mr, R. Coulter, M.P., stated this morning that, while the proposed Pokeno-Paeroa railway was not a matter of immediate interest to Te Aroha, nevertheless he felt certain that everyone in the Thames Valley would appreciate the Government's intention to proceed with this work.

The secretary of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce states that when the proposed line was discussed some months ago by the chamber it was the general opinion of members that it would be of great benefit to the district. In spite of some opposition, a motion was carried deciding to give the fullest support to the project. Mr. F. W. Wild, who has been town clerk of Te Aroha for a number of years, expressed the opinion that the railway would be a great benefit, not only to the Hauraki Plains and Bay of Plenty districts, but also to Te Aroha and the Thames Valley generally.