OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 13

OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY LEAGUE.

A meeting of the executive of the Otago Central Railway League was held at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday night, and attended by Messrs A. Bathgate (chairman), T. W. Kempthorne, J. Hislop, J. Jolly, jun., T. K. Harty, and W. Barron.

A letter from Mr H. E. Muir, president of the Dunedin branch of the Liberal-Labour Federation, with reference to Mr Millar's relations with the Government was received.

Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., wrote acknowledging the receipt of a letter from the league conveying a vote of thanks, for which he returned thanks. As he was only doing his duty in protesting againbt a wrong which had been done to the district he represented, ho did not kpow that he was entitled to the vole. He appreciated the kindly expressions of the league, and would at all times, when the province was affected, be pleased lo have the assistance of tho?e who desired to ha'it justice done to it. — The letter was received.

Mr John M'Kay, of Wedderburn, wrote: — " Owing lo the severe frosts up to the 23rd August, very little progress was made with the clay cuttings on the line, but the ganga working in the rock cuttings made fair time. Since the above dale very good progress has been made, and nearly full time to all the gangs employed. The trimmers have started at Ranfurly to get the line ready for platelaying as, far as Eweburn bridge, so that the heavy material for that nlrueture can be landed at the work. I estimate that whf»n thin bridge is completed all the earthwork between Ranfurly and Wedderburn will be finished, and the work of plale-lay'.ig nnJ ballasting could be proceeded with at onco. On the Wedderburn Ida Valley section v „'reut number of men have been put on during August and September, and gangs of men are now employed beyond the 91st jnile peg in Ida Valley. I believe it is the intention of the authorities to push the formation, which is light, across the Ida Valley, and i?et on to the heavy work on the Blackstone liill side. The different rock cuttings in the Ida Burn Gorge are all well forward, and 1 reckon it will take about eight months to finidh some of thc-c cuttings. Two gangs of stonemasons have arrived this week, and are getting ready to work on the different culverts. There are over 200 men employed between Ranfurly and Ida Valley at present ; and I hear that this number will be increased soon. I trust the league will advocate the opening of the line to Wedderburn with as little delay as possible."

Mr Harty said he had no faith that the present Administration would expend their votes on the line. He thought the members of the league should band themselves into a political body and endeavour to get a progressive party elected at the next election. Mr Kempthorn© pointed out that the league had hitherto endeavoured to steer clear of party politics.'

Mr Harty said he was aware of that. At the same time he thought they might find it was just ag sell to take one side .or the other..

If they thought that the Government would expend their vote on the line they jvould be disillusioned this time next year. Putting the men on the line now he believed was just a move in view of the election. It was simply a " sop to Cerberus." * Sir Hislop said if the Government would say definitely that they would carry the railway to a certain pohit the league ought to be satisfied with that. 2lr Harty: How can you be satisfied with that? In view of the coming election, they vote £60,000, and the same thing will result as before unless something definite is done to get a promise from members that the votes will be expended. Tha Chairman : Members cannok. ensure votes being expended. Mr Harly: Unless we take some decisive steps, and say that we are going to enforce this vole, it is no use our going on. Tho Chairman : What stops do you suggest? Mr Harty: We should do something to ensure the return of members favourable to the expenditure of the votes carried by Parliament"; otherwise the votes will be no good whatever. - # Mr Kempthorne : To set up a political agitation would have a bad effect at the present time. Mr Jolly was entirely in sympathy with what Mr Harty said in connection witli the matter. He thought the course suggested would be a desirable one. The league should take up some aggrestive position, and see that the vote was spent, lie would not be at all surprised if the work was stopped as soon as the election was over. After further di&cussion with regard to the matter, Mr Harty moved — " That a sub-committee be appointed lo draw up a circular to forward to candidates for election in Otago, with the view of getting the votes expended that are passed by Parliament for the Otago Central railway ; the sub-committee to consist of tlje chairman, Mr Barron, and the mover." The motion on being put was carried. Mr Barron drew attention to a speech made by Mr Morrison in the House' recently, and moved — "That the thanks of the league be accorded to Mr Morrison for his speech delivered in the House of Representatives .on September 7 on behalf of the Otago Central railway." Mr Kempthorne seconded the motion. Mr Harty said it was rather late to criticise the action of the Government just before an election. He thought it was done in view of the election, and was not in sympathy with the motion. Mr Barron said it was an entirely new departure for Mr Morrison and Mr Millar to speak out as they had done, and the league might encourage them. Mr Harty replied that he thought it was done in view of the coming elections. The Chairman : There have been elections before, and they never before expressed themslves so strongly as on this occasion. The motion was subsequently put and carried. It was moved— "That Mr M. J. S. Mackenzie, M.H.R., be asked to convene an early meeting of Otago members of Parliament in Wellington before the close of the session, for the purpose of making certain that all necessary works, including culverts and bridges, have been plaopd in hand so that, consistently with tho means available, the largest possible additional ."eelion of the Otago Central railway shall bo completed and running within the present financial year." Jlr Harty seconded the motion, which was carried. it was also resolved — "That the attention of the Otago members be called to the fact that at the prosent rate of expenditure on the Hue it is manifestly apparent that a large proportion of tho current year's vote must again lapse, and that they be requested to impress upon the Government that two or three iimes the present rale of expenditure would not nearly exhaust the vote before the 31st of March next." The Secretary of the Central Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association wrote forwarding a resolution passed by the a=socialion to the effect that the Public Works department bo asked to push on the railway as far as Clyde as rapidly as possible. He might say his committee fully appreciated the efforts of the league in the interests of the line, and they hoped that the time was not yory di-lant when the work would be completed. — It was resolved that the secretary send a suitable reply to the letter.