Gisborne Should Link with Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 1

Gisborne Should Link with Auckland

“BUSINESS, NOT POLITICS” DISCUSSION BY CHAMBER Opinions that the control of the railways should be taken out of the hands of politicians, were voiced by members of the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce at the meeting of the council yesterday afternoon, when a letter dispatched by the chamber to the Prime Minister referring to the desirability of connecting Gisborne and Auckland up by rail came up for discussion. A copy of the letter -was published in yesterday’s Sun. It expressed the dismany of many Auckland business men that Gisborne was being connected with Wellington by rail when it was historically and geographically part of the Auckland Province. Mr. A. G. Lumi said that lie hoped the Government would soon announce a definite railway policy. At present the people of the Dominion did not know where they were. Dines were being started here and discontinued there. Mr. J. A. C. Allum suggested that the Prime Minister should be asked to speak on railways at the luncheon of the Chamber of Commerce, which he is attending on June 6. Mr. Lunn: “X think the country is entitled to some information before any expensive railways are put in.” The acting-chairman, Mr. M. Stewart, said that railway matters should be out of political hands. We have had the Reform policy, and now we are having the United policy. In the future we may he having the Labour policy. He suggested that it would be courtesy to leave the matter over till the Prime Minister had spoken in Auckland. In the meantime the transport; committee could consider the question and report at the next meeting of the council. Mr. Allum stated that on the face, the present railway policy appeared to look more like politics than business. Mr. Stewart: Have you any concrete suggestion for taking the control of rail-ways out of political hands? Mr. E. A. Brown: The matter has been thrashed out years ago. Mr. Allum: The people will soon get sick of having the things they own played with.. It was decided to instruct the transport committe to report on the problem at the next meeting.