Big Gathering at Haeo

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 88, 7 November 1932, Page 5

Big Gathering at Haeo

IMPORTANCE OF NEW ROUTE Speedy Transport to World's Markets NO COUNTRY BETTER SERVED BY RAILWAYS THAN NEW ' ZEALAND Press Association—Copyright Tangarakau, Today.—About 3000 assembled at Maeo. When the ttains were disposed of a raised platform, was, emoted on a side line. Hero the official party assembled. Mr Denniston, chairman of the Ohura County, extended a welcome <o the visitors to th e Ohura district, Mr Langstonc., M.P., welcomed Parliamentarians and Ministers, He expressed the opinion that Ihe line would mean much progress for Taranaki (he Waikjilo, King Country and Auckland. A benefcial feature was the fact, that the line connected two important railways. The speaker strongly opposed the suggestion that the day of the railways was nearing the eclipse and quoted figures to show that railway transport was more economical to the Dominion than road. Mr Forbes before driving the spike said he regretted ill health prevented Hon Hall Jones' presence. Ho referred to the improvement in transport of recent years and expressed the opinion that no country in the world with so small a population was better served than New Zealand. The aim of the Government was to produce to the markets as cheap, ly and speedily as possible. This lino was an important step in this direction.

Mr Forbes referred to the difficulties of the construction of the line and paid a tribute to the engineers and workers. People should take a lesson now from, the way those difficulties surrounded us*. New Zealand would surmount her difficulties also, but this would mean hard work, industry, determination and everyone in every walk of life must do his particular job thoroughly; Mr Forbes said he was well aware that many wer e suffering hardships. but the Government was doing its best with the means at its disposal, lie referred to the necessity of keeping up quality in produce sent overseas. Hon J. G. Coates. speaking at the luncheon at Tangarakau, said if no unforeseen circumstances arose he hoped through traffic would be accepted at the end of November, though the line would not finally be completed until five or six months later.