THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 April 1922, Page 4

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

The Opunake deputation which waited upon the Minister for Public Works the other day did not get much change out of him. He told them plainly that, but for providing work for the unemployed, there would be no men engaged on the line. Also that, in a district with such excellent roads, the motor was a successful competitor with the railway. The thought occurs: Why, then, did the Government ever sanction the branch line from Kapuni to Manaia? The Government is committed to completing the railway to Opunake, and manifestly the four or five miles involved in the Manaia section could more advantageously have been, added to the main line. Really the Manaia section will be of little practical use, for the people of the district are not likely to use the railway when they are able to go by motor to Hawera in about a third of the time and at the same or less cost. Neither will the branch line be availed of appreciably in the carriage of merchandise or produce, for the reason that motors can haul loads over a tarred, well-graded road like the Manaia—Hawera road as cheaply

as the railway, with the added convenience | of delivering the goods at the doors of their customers or stores. We will be very much surprised if the large quantities of dairy produce from Kaupokonui, Otakeho and Riverdale are put on the train at Manaia when the motors can deliver them almost as cheaply at Hawera, and obtain full back-loading. Thus there is every likelihood that the Manaia section of railway will be a white elephant. It will probably cost £BOOO to £lO,OOO a mile, so that from £40,000 to £50,000 of public

money will have been wasted. This mon j y would have been better employed in giving Opunake connection, though, with its good roads and efficient and numerous motor services, that district at present is infinitely better off than the unfortunate settlers who were lured into Taranaki’s hinterland with the promise that road or rail communication would rapidly follow; yet to-day, after nineteen years’ weary wait, they are still isolated for the greater part of the year, owing to the impassable roads. When these unfortunate settlers see money wasted on sections of railway like the Manaia and Waiuku, is it any wonder that they feel so bitter, and regard with scepticism the explanations of Ministers that they are unable to provide them with metalled roads or railways because of the shortage of funds? One member of the Opunake deputation to the Minister said it cost settlers £2 a ton for cartage. In the Ohura, settlers have told us that it costs them from £8 to £l2 in winter, and then thev are not sure of having their goods carted.