LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16684, 3 May 1916, Page 3

LAWRENCE-ROXBURGH RAILWAY LEAGUE.

APATHY OF BUSINESS PEOPLE OF DUNEDIN. A general meeting of the Lawrence-Rox-burgh Railway League was held yesterday. Present—Messrs A. Bathgate (chairman), G. Fenwiok, C. E. Statham, M.P., J. Sparrow, A. Moritzson, F. G. Duncan, 11. Turner (Ettriok), W. Gow, and E. Tamblyn (lion, secretary). _ Tho Chairman said it was close on xo months since tho leaguo held its hist meeting. The Otago Expansion League had asked it to appoint delegates to confer -with the members of Parliament bci'oro they Vent to Wellington. Since, the last meeting tho line had been authorised to Miller's Flat, but ho feared that had been dono in tho way oi survey. borne people slight say this was not a timo tor expending money in pushing on a railway, ■but, although there had been great demands on tho Government for money to -equip the Expeditionary Forces, tho returns showed that tho revenuo of the dominion was very large, and if anything was going Otago should get its share. No doiut, there would be expenditure on public works, because it could hardly be imagined that public works would be discontinued altogether. Tho accounts showed a credit balance or £28 17s. n Mr Fenwick moved that Messrs W. Gow, E Tamblyn, H. Turner, and F. G. Duncan be the league's delegates to the conference Mr Morit.zson seconded tho motion, which was carricd. . , , - Mr Duncan said he was disappointed in not seeing more of tho business people of Dunedin at the meeting. They took a great interest in the Catlms railway, which was he understood, about completed. lho Lawrence-Roxburgh railway should now be pushed on, so that tho Roxburgh district might be brought nearer to Dunedin. Ho thought few of the residents of Dunedin realised tho great future before that district. There was no part of Otago more suitable for intense cultivation than the Molyneux Valley, but until it had railway oommunicatfon it was at a disadvantage as against centres that had better accommodaTho Chairman said that the memoership of tho league contained tho names of many business people in Dunedin, who gave it their financial support. xhat meeting, however was not eno that would call for their attendance, as tho business was merely formal. At the same time many the leading mercantile men of the city did tot take the interest in furthering the development of tho district that they ought to Tamblyn asked if the delegates were to be given a free, hand at the conference. Mr Fenwick said lie thought tho delegates ought to be asked to press for fi°metning being done. If anything was to be dono for other railways in the dominion, Otago should have its share He had sympathy with what Mr Duncan had said. There hod not been that attention given to the material interests of the district that tho business men of the city ought to have given to them, and there had not been that active support given to.the league from members of the community from whom it might ha b"en expected. All the members of Parliament ought to have been there, at any Statham said he was impressed by what had been said about the business men in Dunedin not attending the mating. Their presence at meetings would count . ereat deal more than the money they subbribed. If the Government were to be impressed with the necessity for the line tie best way to impress them was through tho business people and the community generally. As for public works expenditure if there was any money to be spent m the dominion the Otago members would do their level beet to get a fair share of it for their ■ dSt Of course, it had to be remembered that some of the Otago members were not favourable to this particular h™The meeting then informally discussed tho question. '