GISBORNE RAILWAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17453, 30 December 1930, Page 7

GISBORNE RAILWAY

MR. RANSOM’S ASSURANCE \ '' •; •* f \ SUSPENDED FOR HOLIDAYS NO DISPERSAL OF EQUIPMENT. i. . , s’s •' , 1 * • When the Gisborne railway committee met last week, to discuss appropriate steps in respect of the announcement made by the acting Prime JkJihister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, of tie suspension of work on the Wai-kpkopu-Gisborne section’, it 'was decideS(„tbat one of the first points to be tikdn up Cabinet members should be tiro maintenance of the railway organisation built up within past two years. I The committee felt that while the equipment assembled by the Public Works Department and the staff organisation under |he district .engineer reinained undisturbed there would still be a prospect pf the line going ahead, but that once

the staff was. dispersed and the machinery removed/ all hopes of continuance must be abandoned, t. Incorporated in the telegram of protest forwarded, to the acling-i’vime Minister, as a result of the delega-, tion. J s. meeting w.as a‘request that the blganisation on the Waikokopu-Gis-bbine section should not be disturbed, aVd tho first satisfactory news’ fcfeeiyfid 'for some, ti;me eame : lagt .cvenR#g>. froth- Mr. Hansom. This wha vin the form of a telegram acknowledging the protest of the Gisborne railway committee, and stated: *‘ T have now received telegram signed -by yourself and other representatives of. the Gisborne railway delegation, and have noted the representations regarding the Wgikokopu railway. Work is at present closed down on account of the holidays, and no action has yet been taken in the direction of removing the equipment. I note that a deputation proposes to make representations pp the matter to tho Government early in the new year. ’ ’ l AN. INVITATION RENEWED.

. On. receipt of Mr. Ransom’s communication" the Mayor, as chairman of the Gisborno railway committee, dispatched the following reply: "Thanks for your telegram and assurance that Work on the Waikokopu-Gisborno railway is" oplylclosed-down .on account of holidays. Before deciding to closo down the works, as published, we will appreciate it if you and your colleagues will visit Gisborne. Failing that, on what date will you receive a /jJel’egation from Gisborne? Trusting that you will see that work is resumed after tho holidays.” the new complexion given to the issue by the acting Prime Minister's statement, tho Mayor commented this morning that apparently Cabinet .was not disposed to act as hur-

riedly as the previous pronouncement had 'suggested. The door wms not .(dosed upon discussions, as between the committee and Cabinet, and doubtless the committee would be given tho opportunity, previously promised by the SSjting Prime Minister, of combating the evidence given ag-unst tl.e prospects of the line. He proposed to Call the committee together to-morrow. Mr. Ooleman added, to consider what further action mieht be taken, in an-» ticipation of Cabinet granting the interview asked for. .* : - SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS. 1200 PASSENGERS PER WEEK ANNUAL REVENUE £131,000. Released to-day for publication with the authority of the Gisborne railway committee, a statement prepared by Mr.’C. G. Bloore on behalt ot the committee contains some significant conclusions as to the probable freight and passenger, returns from the Gisborne-. Napier line which would accrue in the event of the Waikokopu-Gisbornc section being carried to completion. "It" has been emphasised on more than one occasion that the success of the whole line depends upoij traffic from Gisborne and the East Coast, and Mr. BloOre's statement presumes that unless the line is brought to Gisborne the greater part of the traffic will not be tapped by the Railway Department.’ The object of the statement is to combat the effect of figures placed before the Parliamentary committee in, September, these figures having been compiled, (according to Mr. W. D. Lysnar’s understanding, upon the results of the extension of the railway Connection to Tauranga, in tho Bay of Plenty. Mr. Blooro's conclusions are as under:— '* Passengers.—The Gisborne services now carry an average of ouU passengers a week between Gisborne and Napier: there are at least double the number of private cars carrying i>eop!e Who do not like going by service "car. There arc also many people travelling to Auckland who have to endure a day s tiring journey, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m-, from ' Gisborne to Rotorua, and who would travel by the Main Trunk if the lino were open. It is estimated that there would be nearly treble the number of people travelling if the line were open,, because many dread the journey between ’Gisborne and Napier by car. I therefore put it down that 1200 persons would travel by the railway, a total of 62,000 a year. The average fare, first and second class, between Gisborno and Napier, would .be 16s 2d, so that the revenue from railway passenger traffic would amount to £SO.CdO odd. The first class motor fare (Duco) is 30s single, 55s return; other services 25s and 50s. .CAR AND PRODUCE FREIGHT.

? Motor car importation to Oisborne.—> Frte hundred and eight cars and trucks weye; brought to Oisborne last year, the btflk of 'them being from Wellington. The average cost of bringing these cars bV road is £7. Practically all the garages tell me that if the railway ran to Uis- ' borne the cars would be brought by train. ..The total freight would therefore, amount, at £7 each, to £3566. Maize.—ss,74B sacks were shipped from Oisborne by boat last year, the bulk of it to Auckland, but ti fair amount to Wellington; owing to the bitter boat services to Auckland they get- mast of the trade. With the line .open to Gisborne, there would be new m&rkets opened up through Wanganui, Wafraraim, Manawatu, and Taranaki.. jt i s -estimated that 40,0C0 sacks could be supplied, which at Is 6d per sack means a revenue of £3QOO; entirely new business. .Sheep.—Approximately 140,000 sheep are now driven south and about 60.000 north, a total of 200,000 a year, chiefly ewes and store sheep (159,000 counted over Mohaka township bridge in 1928). This means a fortnight’s to three weeks’ drive to either railhead, resulting in .serWe depreciation and loss, *a» there is jfliSHv no feed left on the roads

after the first few mobs have gone through. The railway would open up a very large market for stock in Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wanganui and Waikato, it being naturally assumed that a railway journey of two to three days would be infinitely easier on stock than say a fortnight’s drive. It is estimated that this stock traffic will increase 50 per cent., say 500,000 sheep, which, however, is less than 10 per cent, of the sheep in the district, of which there are over 3,000,000. Taking only the present exports without allowing anything for the future, 200,000 sheep at an average of 70 to the truck, means 2857 trucks, and with freight at £4 17s lOd per truck would mean £13,927. But (as per expert’s estimate) for 300,000, £20,890. In addition to this there is the importation of stud and flock rams to Poverty Bay. approximately 4000 rams a year, which at 40 to the truck, means 100 trucks at £4 17s lOd or £485. N.B. : In addition to this there would be a big movement of fat stock to supply the butchers’ markets of Wellington and Auckland, as Gisborne can fatten sheep all the year round owing to its mild climate. N.Z.’S BREEDING AREA Cattle. —Gisborne has 275,000 head of cattle, and is the source of supply for most of the outside districts of the North Island, both for breeding stock and stores. It. is considered that 10 per cent, of the surplus cattle in Poverty Bay is bought by outside buyers, say 27,500 a year. This would not include the fat cattle for Auckland and Wellington markets, of which there is always a surplus in Gisborne in winter. However, assuming that only 27,500 head would go out, with nine bullocks to the truck or 15 mixed stock, say an average of 12 per truck, this means 2300 trucks at £4 i7s lOd, or a total revenue, of £ll 212 Pigs.—There are about 14,000 in Gisborne; 10 per cent, of these, say 1400 at 40 to the truck, say 35 trucks at £4 17s lOd, equals £l7O. N.B. : In addition to this there would he a good quantity of pork sent to outside factories and brought back as bacon to Gisborne. This would go say under “general merchandise.” hut it would be a decided source of revenue.

Stock generally.—During times of drought in Hawke’s Bay, when Gisborne does not suffer, or during dry times in Gisborne, when there are surplus stock which must be shifted to save them, there would be quite a substantial movement over the rails. In addition to that there would be a big importation of stud cattle, both run cattle and Jersey stock, which are at present brought bv motor trucks. There would also be a movement of horses, including racehorses. A very conservative estimate of the revenue to be derived from this source would be £2OOO. Wool. —The number of bales of wool sent to Napier sales is 15,000. As the railway, picking up stuff along the lino would carry this freight to the wool stores in Napier direct, it is assumed that the railway would secure the bulk of this traffic. At the present time, wool is even taken to Putorino and mu on the railway to Napier. At 8s 5d per bale this revenue would amount to £6300. In addition all wool in Wairoa district is now shipped from Wairoa to Waikokopn, probably a third of above, but say £IOOO (half above freight) in revenue to railway; total, ronghlv, £7300. MAIL CONTRACT SAVINGS.

Mail contracts.—The present cost of transporting parcels and letters and mail traffic of all kinds between Gisborne and Napier is £4400, this sum being paid out to service companies. This would he saved or would be' a source of revenue by rail. / General merchandise. —It was esti mated by the Government experts in their report of October 17, 1927, that the revenue under this beading would be £7OCO. It is generally considered that this would be largely exceeded. However, we will take its as fairly correct.

Coal.—Owing to the present methods of shipping and the consequent loss of coal when it is handled by rail and boats, carts and trucks, there is a tremendous difference between the cost of coal at say Napier and Gisborne., The freezing companies consider that most- of the coal used here would he brought .by train. The total amount at present imported is 16.760 tons. The freight on this would amount to say £IO.OOO on 10,000 tons, as balance might still come bv boat.

Petrol.—At the present time, all (lie petrol is brought in drums and cases by boat. All the Gisborne motor importers consider that it would come by rail The present cost of handling in cases and drums is over 4d per gallon. The total importation of petrol to Gisborne district is approximately 1,270,000 gallons. Assuming that the freight by rail amounted to only 2d per gallon, the total freight, to be earned bv this commodity would he over £IO,OOO.

Fertilisers.—the quantity imported to Gisborne is increasing rapidly every year, it, being doubled in the last two years. The revenue, estimated by the Government experts in 1927 was £l5O. This has already doubled since then, and bv the time the railway is open, say three years, it is considered it will he a great, deal more than double again, as tfie farmers on-'Poverty Bay country are only commencing to use manures. A most conservative estimate should he ■fUCOO to be derived from this source. As a matter of fact, shipping costs at present prevent more being used here. Tn ,spite of that, in the last five years, ar. increase of six times the amount has occurred. Of course, the indirect benefit to be derived from this traffic is immeasurable, that is to say. increased production as a result of the use of manures. SUMMARY OF REVENUE Passengers £50,000, motors £3556, maize £3OOO, sheep £13,927 (300,000 extra sheep, £6963). rams £485, cattle £11.2-12 pigs £l7O, drought stock £2OOO. wool £7300, mails £4400, general merchandise £7OOO, coal £IO,OOO, petrol £IO,OOO, fertilisers £looo—total £131,013. . ... Fruit, early fat lambs for Wellington, timber for Wairoa from Motu mills, shingle for loads, Null aka to Gisborne, sand for concrete, Waikokopn to Gisborne, bricks and pipes, Gisborne to Wairoa.- £9OOO, a roughly estimated revenue of say £140.000 in sight as soon as the railway is completed. Closer settlement.—Results: Five estates comprising 40,000 acres, originally carried 45.000 sheep and 2500 cattle, now have 116 families settled on them and are carrying 83,000 sheep and 6500 cattle, of which about a third are dairy cattle, besides which a lot of maize is grown as well. Biggest stations in New Zealand, amt biggest sheepowners; most suitable for subdivision, in Poverty Bay. from Wairoa lo East Cape. Country served bv the line. —North of Gisborne are 120 miles of good country, of which,the outlet will be the Gisborne line. Gisborne itself is the centre and the only outlet for 11 main valleys with an aggregate length of 55 milesi with not a .bad acre in it. Construction.—The crux of the con struction question and the expense of running this line is this: From 1918 lo 1927, a period of nine years, only 20 miles a venr (which equals about 6 per cent, of the total mileage of railways in New Zealand) of new railway have heen built, but the number of employees lias increased 42 per cent. The root of ttie evil is the cost of construction and the time taken in construction. The Canadian Pacific railway, 3800 mile* ir,

length, was completed in four years two days. Canada built 3000 miles last year to develop country ; New Zealand built 20 miles. Solution of the difficulty.—Let all new construction by tender. N.B.—Re steamer competition. Railways to Whangiirei and Tauranga put boats, off. N.B.—Betterment of district by railway connection ; result increased income tax. N.B. —Agree that country Waikokopnto Muriwai will not pick up business en route, but on arrival at Gisborne, the line will tap the whole of the rich Gisborne district from Muriwai to To Araroa, 130 miles inland to Motu, Mnmratu and Wlinrekopac, varying in depth from 45 to 60 miles, which hinterland has no outlet but Gisborne.