NIGHTCAPS LINE

Southland Times, Issue 19125, 18 December 1923, Page 5

NIGHTCAPS LINE

AGITATION FOR PURCHASE DEPUTATION TO MEET MINISTER FARMERS AND TOWN BOARD INTERESTED. There was a good attendance in the Coronation Hall, Wairio, when the residents met and passed a resolution urging the Government to acquire the Wairio-Night-caps line. Mr J. G. Johnston, in opening, explained the object of the meeting. When the Company ceased operations it did not require the line and a deputation was sent to Wellington without getting a definite answer. Since then they had received other encouragement, and if they stuck together there was a fair chance of obtaining their object. The present meeting was called by the Farmers’ Union and the Town Board members were invited to be present. He then called for nominations for chairman. Mr J. B.' Purdue, chairman of the Town Board, was voted to the chair. “The time has arrived,” he said, “when everyone who owns property in the township should urge the Government to take over the line. The present buildings were almost worth the price the Company was asking for the line. If we stick together there is every chance that we will get what we want. We should see that the line is made a public concern.” “When the Board, appointed to consider the construction of the Ohai line, was formed,” said Mr D. Sinclair, "I was a member and strongly opposed the construction of the Ohai line. My reason was that the Ohai railway would be detrimental io Nightcaps. At that time it was generally recognised that the Government would take over the present line.” He went on to say that the Company was not closing down because it had run out of coal, but because it was deemed advisable to wind up the affairs of the Company. There was still plenty of coal in and around Nightcaps, east of the present line. There was a large tract of agricultural country, including Crown lands, just opened for settlement, and it was a short-sighted policy to interfere with the existing railway facilities. Such a retrograde step would be detrimental to the district. They should look forward to keeping the present line and should use every means in their power to achieve that object. The line was a paying proposition, as the present revenue, without coal, was £6OO a month. The more railways they had the more country would be opened for settlement. The present railway had been laid primarily for the coal field, but it had opened up the country for settlement. The people had looked upon the railway as a Government one, and steps should be taken to make it a public concern. During the time the Company was working it put out 1,425,000 tons of coal which brought the Government £400,000 in revenue. Without that coal traffic, the line would not have paid axle grease. “It is up to us now,” he concluded, “to show the Government that we should keep the line. I have a petition which was signed by 276 residents, and 77 farmers names are on that list. The bulk of the farmers names were taken as they came to the railway.” “If we do not keep the railway,” said Mr J. Crampton, “we will be forced into the Ohai area.” He then stated that the railway served 200,000 acres valued at about £300,000. Even if the line did not pay, a rate of Jd in the pound would cover any loss. If they were forced into the Ohai railway the rates would be much heavier. Certain roads, feeders of-the railway, had been built vrith Government “thirds,” and if the Government had not intended to acquire the line it should not have used the “thirds” on those roads leading to the line. “If possible,” he concluded, “they should lease the line for 10 to 15 years and see how it gets on.” Mr Strudwick said there was an impression abroad that if they lost this railway that Ohai was going to give them conveniences. “Any conveniences we get from Ohai,” he said, “we will have to pay for by coming into its district. We should endeavour to do something ourselves.” “If we acquire the line as a district railway,” said Mr Greer, “we will never be rated as the line is sure to pay.” He then said that coal had been found to the east of the township. It was not a fair proposition to ask the settlers to buy the line, but he was willing to shoulder his share of the burden.

Mr O. Sinclair: The reason Why a district was not formed was that we did not want any more local bodies.

Mr J. O. Clapp gave some figures. He said that approximately 12,681 passengers had travelled over the line as against ,8,186 from Otautau while 9,030 booked at Wyndham and 7,936 at Woodlands. The inward tonnage was as follows: —Otautau 6,718; Nightcaps 9,886. If the traffic had dwindled since, the coal stopped, why was the same staff employed? Individually the members of the Ohai Board favoured the retention of the railway, but he did not know what they thought of it as a Board. “They say the line is a white elephant,” he concluded. “If that is so why close one white elephant and open another at Orawia.”

Mr Strudwick: The Government is crying out for more production, but if it closes the line production will drop. I would not have taken up land where I am if I thought that there was a possibility of losing the line.

“If the line is closed,” said Mr Johnston, “the Government will have to spend at least £l5OO making a good road to Wairio from my district. It will be a saving all round if the railway is retained.

Mr J. J. Crampton then moved that a strong deputation consisting of the Town Board and farmers wait upon the Minister of Railways in January, and place their case before him, urging the Government to buy the line.

The motion was carried unanimously and the following farmers’ committee was appointed :—-Messrs J. J. Crampton, J. Johnston, McCorkindsle, Greer, P. Sinclair, M. O’Dowd, Strudwick, with power to add.