MOA FLAT DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 3

MOA FLAT DISTRICT.

RAILWAY FACILITIES WANTED

PETITION TO THE HOUSE

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A petition from 340 settlers of the Moa Flat district was presented to the House on the Ist by Mr Hanan praying for advancement in railway construction.

The petition opens by referring to the urgent need of the district for railway facilities, and continues : “ The progress, of this exceptionally fine agricultural district is much retarded owing to the geographical conditions. On the one hand the contour of the country precludes the district taking advantage of the LawrenceRoxburgh line to the north, while to the south the existence of .only one particularly heavy grade, combined with the bad roads, necessitates so much extra horsepower, together with waste of time, that farmers have gradually turned their attention from the growing of grain to that of stock-raising. The result of this is that now only sufficient land is tilled to provide for home consumption and for the urgent renewal of pasture. This fact in itself must be ,lhe source of considerable loss to the railway revenue.” The petitioners therefore respectfully urge the early laying down of only some two miles more of railway, the formation of which would be but a moderate call on the finances of the dominion, as after surmounting the grade referred to the country is practically level. In support of the request the productivity of Moa Flat and its suitability for fruitgrowing is referred to. It is hoped that those members of the House who recently toured the district will realise that the .request is a very moderate and justifiable one. The success of the line ie regarded as so certain that the settlers are prepared to guarantee the payment of any reasonable rate of interest on the outlay.