"TURNED DOWN"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17156, 5 October 1926, Page 6

"TURNED DOWN"

PROPOSED RAILWAY ROUTE ROTORUA TO PAENGAROA ! The railway, a line which was intended to connect Rotorua s with the East Coast railway, has been definitely shelved by the Government ' for several years. Writing to the Bay of Plenty Development League on' the subject, the Ho*!!. K. S. Williams, Minister of Pilblid W T orks, stated: "I have to advise-yon that the prospects of this line paying were inspected closely by the Bauwayi,; Public Works, Lands, and Agriculture; Departments, and reports have been $i ceived from all these department. - The* whole of them indicate that thexe is hti possibility of this jine ati the present! time paying interest on its construction cost, or even paying for working; fij> penses; in fact, reports all go to show* that the revenue to be derived from this line would not be even half of the estimated cost. of operating the lip&. Under these circumstances, the Government has come to the decision that nomore will be done in the matter, at least for several yeaxs to come, and until there are some indications that the" line is likely to pay its way. I regret, therefore, that I cannot see my way td go in for any further survey work irt connection with this route, or to db anything towards its construction at the present time." It was decided to ask the Minister for a copy of the reports in question, several speakers emphasising the im-> portance of the project.