EAST COAST RAILWAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19130, 26 September 1936, Page 4

EAST COAST RAILWAY

TANEATUA TO OPOTIKI PROMISE TO BE FULFILLED WORK TO BE UNDERTAKEN The ejetension of the East Coast railway from Taneatua to Opotiki will be undertaken by the Government at the earliest possible date. An election promise to this effect was made by the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage during his campaign speeches in the Bay of Plenty electorate at Opotiki and To Karaka. Mr. Savage has intimated now that the Government has every intention of fulfilling this promise. Recently the Opotiki Railway League wrote to Mr. Savage as follows:—"At a meeting of the executive committee of the Opotiki Railway ■ League, reference was made to your letter of January 31 last in ' which we have your assurance that your promise regarding the construction of the East Coast Main Trunk railway from Taneatua to Opotiki will be fulfilled. My league, I have to assure you, appreciated at the time this assurance of yours, and would very much like to know what prospects there- are of a start l>eing made before any active steps are taken in connection with the proposed Paeroa-Pokeno deviation."

Mr. Savage has written the following reply : —"I am in receipt of your letter of the 15th instant in further reference to the construction of the East Coast Main Trunk railway from Taneatua to Opotiki. I would again assure you that we have every intention of fulfilling the promises made by us in this regard and that the woi'k will be undertaken at the earliest possible date. Your representations that a commencement be made before any active steps, are taken in connection with the Paeroa-Pokeno deviation are noted and will receive consideration by the Government in the near future."