BRIGHTON RAILWAY LEAGUE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 4

BRIGHTON RAILWAY LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The second annual meeting of th'a Brighton Railway League was held in tho Schoolhouse, Brighton, on the 12th, arsd was attended by upwards of 30 residents of the district. "Mr W. H. Lobb presided. The report submitted by the secretary (Mr D. M'lntosh) on the progress of the league's work during the past year stated that the Hon. J. A. Millar and .the variou9 M.H.R.'s had been written to and their! support solicited in the extension of the> Walton Park branch railway to Brighton, and that favourable replies had been received. A deputation of the league waited on the Otago League at its last annual meeting with a view of placing its claims before the Otago League. At that meeting a motion was carried in which tho Otago League pledged itself to support tho extension of the line. At the beginning ofi last session of Parliament a second petition for the extension of the line to Brighton! was forwarded to Parliament, and was re-, ferred to the Government for consideration by the Petitions Committee. Owing to tha short session small headway was made with the petition, and it is now considered advisable to forward a further petition t3 Parliament next session. Members of tho League would require to continue in their 1 , agitation in order to get the railway to Brighton. Direct representation should bo made to Ministers urging that the claims of the icague receive consideration. An: endeavour should also be made to arrange for a deputation of Dunedin representative* to assist the league in the same connection. The claims of the league should also bo brought under the notice of the Dunedin! , Trades and Labour Council, solicitirg its support. The* Walton Park line at, its present terminus was of no benefit to tho district whatever, but if extended for a distance of a little over four miles it would! serve the district to great advantage. Brighton and surrounding districts had suffered considerably from an agricultural! point of view by reason of the absence of railway communication. The extensionof the railway to Brighton would mean tho development of the tourist and holiday traffic, for Brighton was admittedly a splendid watering place. With railway communication the district would he very extensively patronised. Then, with facilities for the carriage of produce, lime, etc., a settler would be enabled to go in for % more extensive system of cultivation. The coal industry in the district was also an important consideration and a strong argument in favour of the extension of the railway. There were extensive coal areas there onry awaiting development. The line, if extended, would certainly rank amongst the best paying branches in Otago. The league had every right to look for railway extension to Brighton. The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded and carried unanimously. The secretary then read to the meeting' 1 for its consideration a working policy that it would be advisable for the league to pursue in order to obtain more recognition in its efforts to have the line extended. The first proposal was that a stronger league be formed and a manage- ~ ment committee consisting of about six members set up to which the carrying out of the league's work could be entrusted 1 . Special matters could be dealt with by a> full meeting of the members. The line of policy suggested was as follows: — (1) Th© forwarding to Parliament next session of a petition urging the authorising and extension of this line. (2) Waiting as a deputation on Ministers of the Crown, and thus urging the claims of the district for railway extension. (3) Waiting as a deputation on the Otago League at its annual meeting for the same purpose. (4) Waiting on the Dunedin Trades and Labour Council and soliciting its support. (5) Writing 1 to Otago M.H.R 's and M.L.C.'s urging on them the district's claims to consideration. (6) Arranging for a visit of tho Minister of Railways to the district. Mr M. Stevenson, in moving the adoption of the proposals submitted, said thafc a great deal of credit was due to the secretary (Mr M'lntosh) for the framing of the proposals just submitted to the meeting. Generally speaking, considerable work had fallen to the secretary. It was necessary, that the league should receive the unanimous support of everyone in the district, for if that support were not forthcoming they could not look to the Dunedin people for assistance. There was also the question of finance. In that connection it was necessary thai the people in the district should put their hands in their pockets in order to assist the league- in its work. For whatever assistance was given finan1 ciaJlv residents would receive atfjple reward in the construction of the line. They would have to continue agitating until they got what they wanted. They were not askinsj much, for there was already tho line to Walton Park, and all that was required was that the two trains now running to Walton Park be carried right through to Brighton. Once constructed the line would be a paying concern. The motion" for th-e adoption of the proposals was carried unanimously. The following office-bearers were elected! for the ensuing year: — President, Mr T. IW. Whitson ; vice-presidents, Messrs Chaa. Samson and M. Stevenson ; secretary, Mr; D. M'lntosh; treasurer, Mr J. Wright; committee — Messrs W. H. Lobb, F. Lobb, John Wright. D. M'lntosh, John Mcc, JDavev. M. Stevenson, James Barron, and G. M'Leod; auditor, Mr M. Stevenson. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the secretary for the work done by hin* during the year.