RAILING THE COAST.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4538, 23 May 1913, Page 6

RAILING THE COAST.

WHAT__ DANNEVIRKE THINKS.

In its issue of Tuesday last the Dannevirke News states :—The visit of tlie Hon. W. Fraser, Minister ®f Public Works, to Masterton, Pahiat.ua, and Pongaroa brings tlie question of railing the East Coast down to ■ tlie bedrock of practical discussion. There are two schemes to be considered. The one provides for linking up the whole of the coast with a loop-line from Masterton to Waiptikuran. 'Hiis is a costly scheme, and it is'one from which the settlers could not hope to derive uny benefit for some considerable time. The Government has load to stop work on the railway from • Napier to Gisborne, and this is but one of the uncompleted lines that exi ists in the Dominion. To borrow a further million of money to provide a line that would take traffic away from an already existing arterial line does not, on the face of it, appear a busi-ness-like .roposal. The alternative 1 proposal before the Government is to I construct light feeder lines running 1 out from Dannevirke to Weber; Paliiatua to Pongaroa ; Eketaliuna to 'Alfredtton ; Masterton to Taueruj and Featlierston to Mertinborough. The last-mentioned line has already been authorised by Parliament. This proposal. if carried out, would have the ’ effect of feeding the main line through the Wairarnpa, while Dannevirke would provide a junction for the coast | wit 1 main lines to Gisborne, Wellington, arid Auckland. As far as the iv Imy of light feeder lines is epneerned, Mr Fraser may be considered as pledged to it. In tlie Public Worts Statement introdueid in October ot last year, which might be considered the official declaration ot the policy of the Reform Government, the Minister said —Hitherto all our railways have been constructed in accordance with a high standard as regards stability of formation, weight of rails, and quality of permanent way generally, but I suggest to honourable members that the time has arrived when we should consider the question of providing lighter and cheaper railways to serve the districts where settlement is advancing, and where the maintenace of roads, in fit'condition to carrv produce to the main lines throughout the year, is likey to a heavv burden to tlie settlers. '•> the interior of the North Island, particularly. road construction is an expensive undertaking, and the maintenance under heavy and regular traffic is in many instances likolv to be a continuous burden owing to the absence of metal and the rapid deterioration of the formation through broken country in wet weather. If the bulk of the produce could be carried on rails to the main lines, or to an outlet to the markets, the roads would be relieved of the worst of the traffic, and the settlers would not be exposed to the heavy charges, and sometimes long delays, now incurred in bringing their produce to a distant railway.

The Minister further expressed the view that the most favourable lines to operate as light lines were disconnected sections carrying their own locomotives, and rolling stock which never go off the section. It, would not be possible, lie pointed out, to

adopt much lighter construction where a line is traversed by express trains or on lines where coal or timber for#is any considerable portion of tlie freight to be handled, as both these commodities require^heavy rolling stock, and a line up to the stan•dard of strength. It was desirable, the Minister stated, that any section oil which the .system was tried should be long enough to maintain in its own equipment of locomotives and rolling stock. We [minted out at the time that the East Coast furnished a field of operations in every way adapted to meet the Ministerial conditions. Mr Fraser is now seeing the routes for himself. At the request of the Masterton, Paliiatua and ltongaron people he is conducting a personal inspection of the East Coast, but this hurried visit will not justify him in coming to a decision on the feeder line scheme. Before that can be done, he mifct inspect the proposed route from Dannevirke to Weber, as he has promised to do. We do not think that Dannevirke is losing anything through not securing a flying visit over the other proposed lines. It is very much better to wait and secure a special visit from Air Fraser when he has time to thoroughly inspect the advantages that this district has to offer. This could probably best be done in the summer Tt is to be hoped, however, that tho gentlemen appointed to attend the deputation at Pahiatun to-morrow evening will make it their business to attend. Tlie questions to be discussed vitally affoct Dannevirke, and the ease for this district should be further impressed on the Minister.