ROAD OR RAILWAY?

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1920, Page 3

ROAD OR RAILWAY?

WAITARA - TE KUITI CONNECTION. DISCUSSION BY CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL. GOVERNMENT TO BE APPROACHED.

The question of constructing a light railway between Waitara and Te Kuiti was again the subject of discussion at the meeting of the Clifton County Council yesterday, when several replies were received from various local bodies, to which the Council had forwarded lution on the matter. The Tarauaki Chamber of Commerce forwarded cop< ->f resolution passed at the quarterly ivt-ing of the Chamber, giving moral support to any action taken by the Awakino, Clifton and Waltomo Counties in resp<-ct to the idea of getting a survey for a light railway. The clerk of the Awakino County Council wrote that the Awakino County Council fully recognised that the construction of such a railway would be of immense benefit to the whole of the district situated between the two lines, but they. considered the completion of the road and the building of the MokaJ bridge were even of more importance. If they started agitation for the construction of railway at this stage they might get promises from the Government, and they might use these promises as an excuse for not prosecuting vigorously the completion, and metalling of the road. The Council considered that it would be advisable first of all to concentrate on the road and get the Government tA seriously take this matter up, and then start on the. railway. However, they did not wish in any way to block progress, and would be pleased to have further news on tltc matter.

The Waitara Borough Council notified that a resolution had been passed that, as the Council was already pledged by every means in its power to push on the road, it considered it inadvisable to complicate matters by supporting the railway. The Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce wrote, expressing sympathy with the idea, but it would like more information as to route, etc. RAILWAYS BEFORE ROADS.

C:\ Jones, a member of the Okau Settlers' Association, who are taking a keen interest in the matter, moved that the Council ask tin; Government to survey a railway line from Wailara to or near X" Kuiti, and suggest via Mt. Messenger, the Mangatoro Valley, and the coal mines at Mokau. They should obtain alternative estimates of the cost of a light and of a heavy line, and that a copy of the resolutions favoring such from various local authorities accompany the resolution, and j that the same he forwarded to the MinI ister through Mr. W. T. Jennings, MP. In speakinjr to the motion, Cr. Jones -aid it had now resolved itself into a question of road versus railway. All rc- ; cognised the advantages of a good road, uml none more so than the members of the Okau Settlers' Association. They, however, realised (he scarcity of metal, and considered that the construction of a railway would he one way out of the rlifi'.julty, and would enable the by-rouds to be metalled, as metal would be able to be conveyed by rail. Even if the main road was now metalled by the Government at a great cost, they feared that without the railway the heavy traffic, especially over Mt. Messenger, would soon crush it out, and the hitter stage would lie worse than the lirst. They felt that railways should precede the roads, which they would considerably relieve. He, as well as the other- settlers of the district, was willing to contribute C for £ towards the construction of the roads, but (hey did not feel as the settlers in the To 'Kuiti district evidently did, that the settlers should rate themselves for the railway under the Local Railways Act of lf»M, as well as for the roads. They fe't that, the Government should build the railways, which would pay (he cost of construction, and leave the ratepayers to bear the burden, of raiding, fhere should lie no conflict between roads and railways, as the one would help the other. He had had experience of the Mann.wain when the railway.preceded the roads, and as time wenit on, the by-roads were metalled, the main roads following two or three years later. Railways enabled (ho metalling antl upkeep of roads to be done cheaper, so that they gave better facilities and greater development to the country. He could not understand Waitara's attitude on the matter, and he suggested that the Borough Council should refer the matter back to the ratepayers. There seemed to be an idea that the railway would interfere with shipping interests in YVaitara. He did not think this was so. Probably the only port affected would be Tongnporutu, and there shipping had fallen to a very low ebb. He did not think the railway would interfere with the shipping; in Waitara in any way. In fact, he ( hough t one would heip the other. Tr was also stated that the motorists desired better roads, but he pointed out that settlers had the publie interest to consider, and could not stand still for private interests. OPENING NEW COUNTRY.

f'r. Musker, in seconding, said that the matter was one of groat importance not only to local people, but to the people of the province and to New Zealand as a whole. The cry was now for increased production, and Wh a railway would open up an immense area of undeveloped country. Pessimists had been saying for years that the railway would not pay., hut he pointed out that they had to consider that railways largely paid no account of the increased production and the facilities given by them. They wr.nted people to go to the hack country, but they did not want to'kill people, as had been done in the past. It was up to the Government to spend money.on railways and roadhig, and allow the people, in t lit* backblneUs to have reasonable facilities. They hardly knew yet the possibilities of the country that the railway would pass through. Some people feared that if they agitated now for a railway they would block both the road and railway, but he pointed out that they were under different departments. The Government intended to go on with the road and bridge, and he did not see how the agitation for the railway, which would take years to get into practical working, could interfere. Moreover, if the railway was put through, Clifton County would .bo one of the largest buyers from ihe Government quarry of metal, which was difficult to get. The Council, as one of the responsible bodies for providing facilities of transport would be well advised to look to the future. With the ipanwljr settled district thg cost ot road*,

uig would bear heavily on the ratepayers, but the railway, by increasing settle-' mem, would considerably lessen the cost. Cr. Jones said that the country through which the proposed line would run was equal to the StratfordOkahukura line as far a? the country was <*»■ corned, and presented no more difficulties of construction. Cr. Foreman favored the resolution. He did not see why such a line should not pay. It would open up the coal mines. The matter of whether it would pay or not could ho left to the Government. Cr. Musker considered there was no need to stre3s the point of whether it would pay or not. There was not the slightest doubt that the back country would be opened up with or withdut a railway, but at what a cost of lives 'Of ■■ men and woniqn, whose position would ■ ibe much easier if they had a railway. After a little further discussion the resolution was carried.