THE OPUNAKE LINE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 74, 18 March 1914, Page 5

THE OPUNAKE LINE.

DEPUTATION TO 5/3R MERRIES, The Chairman of the Manaia Town Board was introduced to the Hon. Mr Merries yesterday as a deputation to urge upon the Minister the starting of the Opunake railway, for which £15,000 had been voted last session.

Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., again .urged the importance of the line to the district.

The Hon. Minister for Railways, in reply to the deputation, said the Government did not place £15,000 on the Estimates for the mere pleasure of just seeing it there. It was the intention of the Government to see it spent; they recognised the importance of the line, and hoped that at a very early date the route would be : announced. Directly he got back to Wellington he would convey the deputation’s representations to Mr Massey, and he understood that the whole matter was practically left to Mr Massey, Mr Eraser, and the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department. He (Mr Herries) would urge upon them the necessity of allaying the people’s minds with regard to the route, and directly that was decided he had little doubt the work would be commenced. During the summer months the Public Works Department wore loth to take men away from their regular employment on farms and at harvesting, and the Government recognised the desirability, as far as possible, of providing work during the winter.