THE FAR NORTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 43, 13 May 1927, Page 9

THE FAR NORTH

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

RAILWAY EXTENSION URGED

(From Our Own Correspondent.) KAITAIA, To-day,

Messrs. Brodie and Fay, of the Railway Department, Wellington, who are on a tour of investigation in connection with requests to extend the railway in the north, received a deputation of citizens at Kaitaia this morn-

Mr. J. B. Reynolds, of Kaitaia Town Board, said that the number of tourists coining to the Far North was increasing. This traffic would have to be catered for, and ultimately Opua would be the branch, and not the main line, if northern development was to proceed.

Mr. T. Kenny, manager of the North Auckland Farmers’ Co-operative Society, said the Far North could supply fat lambs earlier than any part of New Zealand, but there were no transport facilities to get them to the freezer.

Mr. A. L. Masters, a prominent settler, said that northern garden produce could be placed on the market i month ahead of other districts. He had a fine crop of early potatoes ready

arly in July, but although they sold at fivepence a pound in Auckland, owing to transport expenses they netted him only one penny per pound. This state of affairs was discouraging to agriculturalists. He had produced ripe cucumbers, tomatoes, and marrows in October, but ---nd the ear 1 ’ cucumbers to the pigs for a couple of months, as he could not get the produce to the markets. The extension of the railway to Mangamuka would eliminate these drawbacks, and would greatly increase "i-oduction and prosperity ir> the Far North.