RE-OPENED!

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17142, 18 September 1926, Page 4

RE-OPENED!

BATTLE OF THE ROUTES GISBORNE - WAIROA LINE LEFT TO NEW MINTSTLjS The route of the Gisborne-Wairoa section of the East- Ceast Main Trunk railway is to be taken up by the new Minister of Public Works, the Hon. K. S. Williams, who is to have a free hind to settle the matter of the route, irrespective of the fact that the Government has an existing railway line from Wairoa to Waiko'kopu . This is the effect of an agreement reached between' the Piime Minister and Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., for the Gisborne electorate, who lias kept before the House tho claims or the inland route. Some time ago the Prime Minister) promised to discuss the matter finally with Mr. Lysnar before his departure for the Imperial Conference, ancf though he was rushed with business just prior, to sailing, he saw. Mr. Lysnar, and it was arranged that the consideration of the relative values of the routes was not to ■ be prejudiced by the fact that tho Waikokopn line is already in existence. The Public Works Minister is to exercise hid . judgment without influence or instruction. ON THEIR MERITS. Mr. Lysnar, in conversation to-dajv stated that from the Prime Minister’s undertaking, he understood 1 that- the rival routes, were to. be judged entirely % on their merits. He was especially pleas- ' ed, Mr. Lysnar ;said, that the* Prime) Minister had agreed to eliminate the Waikokopu line. from .the (question, Tpr this would greatly simplify the matter. The more the merits of the inland route were considered, the more impossible itf appeared that the coastal route could compete with it. However, there would be some data which would have to be collected before the matter was finally, dealt with, and he hoped! that it would be obtained and the whole question of the distance and costs of Construction settled authoritatively.

From the data in his possession, Mr. Lysnar judged that the inland route "quid have a shorter mileage between Gisborne and Wairoa, as compared! with the coastal route, and that unless this were taken advantage of, it would mean, that a serious drag would be placed on the development of the district, and the transit of passengers and freight) made more expensive than it need be, for all time.