The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro MONDAY, MAY 19, 1913. THE MOA FLAT RAILWAY.

Southland Times, Issue 17347, 19 May 1913, Page 4

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro MONDAY, MAY 19, 1913. THE MOA FLAT RAILWAY.

I ■ • • 1 The Moa .Flat deputation had a strong case to lay before the Chamber of Commerce on Friday, and the people of Invercargill have an equally strong case to take up in pressing the claims of the Edievale extension railway upon the Government. But for strong political pressure brought to bear upon a former Government by Dunedin the extension of the railway from Edievale through Moa Flat would have been carried out long ago. An extension by this route would not only have opened up a large tract of land of enormous productive capacity, and susceptible of very close settlement, but it would also have served the needs of the Roxburgh district. Moa Flat comprises a large area of first-class agricultural laud. For a railway through it a large and remunertive traffic would be available from the outset, and as the provision of railway facilities would have the effect of stimulating settlement and production the traffic would steadily increase. A Moa Flat railway would make an addition to the highly profitable lines of the South Island, and a corresponding improvement in the returns from this part of the dominion’s system. The LawrenceRoxburgh railway will not bear comparison w r ith the Moa Flat line as affording the opportunity for the advantageous investment of public money, and it is an unfortunate thing for the whole of the dominion that a large sum of money has been expended upon a line which can never be profitable because the country through which it: passes is for the most parr bare and sterile. It may be urged, of course, that Invercargill is looking primarily to its own interests, in that ii expects the trade of the Moa Flat district to benefit Invercargill and the P.laff. That there is likely to,he some benefit we do not deny. Geographically. Moa Flat is part of Southland, and Bluff is the natural outlet for its products, but the benefits that Invercargill may derive from increased settlement and increased production in the Moa Fiat district do not constitute the chief reason why this community and its trade organisations should strongly support the Edievale extension. Here is a band of settlers who are seriously hampered by the want of reasonably adequate means of communication. They are so situated that their access to the railway is practically barred. It is in the highest degree a grievous burden upon the Moa Flat farmer that he should have to find a team of nine horses in order to get a load of twenty-eight sacks of grain to the railway station at Edievale. So crippling is the handicap j that the occupation of the settlers is j undergoing a change. They axe find- I ing it necessary to abandon general farming and to use their land for J

pasture purposes. It is not right that their activity should be so restricted, nor is it in the interests of the dominion's trade, and the claim upon a Government which makes the prosperity of those on the land the / chief plank in its platform is well nigh irresistible. The Moa Flat settlers having sought the assistance of the business people of Invercargill have been assured of support, and no doubt strong representations will be made to the Government. We feel sure that the member for the town will do all in his power to assist, and that he will have the co-operation of his colleagues from the Southland district. Southland can fairly claim that it has shown remarkable moderation and selfrestraint in asserting its rights to the expenditure of a fair share of public money upon railway construction. For many years the sums spent were small, and for some years expenditure upon this branch of public work has been cut off altogether. Considering that Southland is one of the most profitable railway districts in the dominion, the Government should be in sympathy with the claims of its people for their just proportion of railway votes, and neither time nor energy should be spared in pressing for satisfaction.