OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15705, 6 March 1913, Page 4

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

A meeting of the Otago Central Railway League was held in the Otago A. and I*. Society's buildings yesterday; present: Messrs W. Burnett (chairman), T.. \V. Kempthorne, W. F. Edmond, and A. Moritzson Messrs T. K. Sidev and C. K. Statham, M.lVs, were also present, ;tnd fcho chairman welcomed. to the meeting Mr R. M'Dougall, sen., chairman of the Wanaka branch of the league. Tho Secretary (Mr H. C. Campbell) reported that -the amount received from tho public for the expenses of tho recent trip with membors of Parliament to Otago Central totalled £310 12s 6d (City Corporation £30, Harbour Board £30, Evening Star Co. £15, Otago Daily Times Co. £15, Union Steam Ship Co. £30, Dnnedin Chamber of Commerce £30, Dunedin Merchants' Association £30, Warehousemen's Association £30, and smaller sums). The oxpenses of the tour were £257 5s Id (hotels f —Alexandra £10 10s, Pembroke £30 10s, Cromwell £12 12s, Roxburgh £12 18s; motor cars, £162 10s; and smaller amounts). The credit balance was £53 7s sd.

The Chairman referred to the liberality of the Dunedin public in subscribing to the fund, and to Mr Moritzson's energy in collecting the money and arranging the tour. Ho was sure the leaguo was indebted to tho Dunedin merchants and others for their liberality.

Mr Moritzson said he had received several letters from North Bland members 6inco tho trip, all of whom expressed their gratitudo at having had tho opportunity of seeing tho country. Otago Central, they had told hiin, had been misrepresented year after year, and hence their aversion to it when a .parliamentary vote was asked for the railway. They wero of a different opinion now, and said that when 1 any discussion took placo iiv regard to Central Otago they ivould bo a'blo to givo a reliable opinio?! oil the country they had passed through. Even Mr Masscy had asked him on ono occasion: "But what country have, you lieyond Pembroke if the railway is taken there?" Ho (Mr Moritzson), therefore, took the opportunity of pointing out to the visitors from tho north that ihe country beyond Pembroke would act as a feeder to the line, exactly in the same way as tho land beyond Kingston. Tho visiting members knew now that the country beyond the lake was good country, that would help to feed the line, and that was the great object tho league had in view in keeping the members at Pembroke for three days. Several of the members had told him that, after attending to their own districts, they would see to tho interests of Otago Central. They had told htm, too, that when thoy were in Central Otago something appealed to them that they did not Mind in Southland; thoy referred to the climate. Mr Moritzson also spoke of the generosity of the Dunedin public in subscribing to the fund, and to tho excellent work of tho country committees. The Hawca and Pembroke Committees wero specially anxious to see that everything was right, and they had succecded in all they had done. The expenses had been kept down as much as possible. The Dunedin representatives were billed for their personal expenses, and it'was satisfactory to know that for each the amount did not exceed 37s 6d for the eijjht days. Mr Edmond and Mr Kempthorne referred to the Euocess of the trip, which was largely duo to the capital arrangements mado by Mr Moritzson and the country committees. "A vote of thanks to the country committees for their assistance was passed unanimously. Mr Moritzson said that before? the House met it was the intention of the Dunedin Expansion League to meet the Otago members. It would be a good plan, tie suggested, to havo a joint meeting of the Lawrence-Roxburgh League, the Otago Central League, and the Expansion League.

The Chairman: \fhat about the Cailins League? 'Mr Moritzaon said the Catlins work was about done—only four miles required to be carried out—so there was no necessity now for the league. The _ Expansion League intended to make this meeting .11 annual affair before Parliament met.

It was resolved to tako part ill the meeting.

Mr Sidey, M.P., said if the league could persuade the Coverment to put a vote oil the Estimates ho had no doubt it would be unanimously passed by the House. Even if a small vote was put on the Estimates it. would indicate the desire of the Government to rc-proseciue tho line.

Mr Statham assured the meeting _ that lie was out for the Otflgo Central railway heart and soul. Last session not only did lie do his best in tho House for the line, but he tried to work among the. members. Ho was grateful to Mr Moritzson and the leaguo for having organised tho trip, because it would help tho members very much in their efforts on behalf of tho railway in the future. The visiting members' wore delighted - with Otago Central, and also with Dunedin. Some of them seemed to have held the opinion that Dunedin was a decaying city, but in the end thev were unanimously of tho opinion that if Dunedin Was not tho it was one of tho best cities in tho dominion.

Mr R. M'Dougall, 'sonr., was heartily welcomed on. rising to say few He spoke of his long oorinection with the effort to carry the lino to Pembroke, and assured the meeting that though _ ho was now well up in years his energies were still being devoted .to the prosecution of the work.—(Applause.).. It had, been a long and arduous fray, and lie 'had become almost exhausted in it, bin bis best efforts would still bo put forward in advocating the continuance ol the railway to Pembroke. Ho thanked the .Duncdin League for supplementing the efforts of the Pembroke League, and expressed tho gratitude of tlio people in Central Otago to Mr Moritzson and tho . other gentlemen who had arranged the splendid trip recently carried out for tho benefit of northern members of Parliament. Ho went to Wanaka 40 years ago, and in the long years since lie had. never spared time, nor effort, nor money io link up his ■district with Duncdin. He thanked the members for their invitation to him co attend tho meeting.—(Applause.)