THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14345, 25 October 1910, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY.

A DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. RECEIVES A REBUFF. (By Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Oot. 24. A deputation representing various local bodies in the Opunake district waited on the Premier and the Minister for Public Works to-day to urge the construction of a railway from Opunake to the main line of railway. Mr. Dive introduced the deputation. Mr. W. C. Dudley, chairman of the Opunake Town Board, said he was nearly tired of asking for the line. Connection was wanted between tho main lino and Opunake. The line would not be an expensive one to construct, and would pay handsomely on the cost of construction. The roads were very expensive to keep up, the life of any road being only about eight years. People in this densely populated district thought a grave injustice was being done to them. They had asked for bread before, and had got a stono. This time they hoped to go back with a very nice cash. Mr. G. W. Rogers spoke of the enormous proportions of the dairy industry in the district. Mr. J. Young (chairman of the Parihaka Road Board) said that the charges for getting goods delivered at Opunake from Eltham or New Plymouth were but of all proportion. Mr. G. G. Harcourt (Auroa) also spoke of the increased output of the dairying industry and the probaole traffic the railway would obtain.' They had been down in Wellington before asking for something, but they had received nothing. This time they wanted something definite 1 . ’ ' Sir Joseph '(firmly): Well, you won’t get it, nor will any other deputation before the Public Works Statement is brought down. There is no use talking in that strain to tho Government. Mr. W. Swadling referred to the heavy rates which the settlers in the district had to pay. Mr. J. T. Quin (chairman of the Eltham County Council) said that the traffic of the county would have “to he put on wheels.” The rating burdens at present for roads were particularly burdensome, there being many thousands of pounds levied for special rates '(roughly, £45,000). The position, to say the least, was very acute. Sir Joseph Ward said he was unable to make a definite reply, as one member of the deputation suggested he should do. So was aware that, the settlers were very naturally anxious to have a railway made, and nothing would give tho Government greater pleasure than to accede to the request, but in allocating money for railway construction they had to deal with the country as a whole. If this ' were the only new railway required . the Minister for Public Works could easily provide for it. but such was not the case. The wliolo country .was asking for. railways, many of which were .very necessary, and many of which the Government would like to provide facilities for., That , tho Government whs' controlled by circumstances and conditions which were not so flexible as the deputation seemed to imagine, that was why he had previously informed 1 a member edr the, deputation that a definite reply could not be given. They were just ns anxious to help: ■ the settlers as the’ settlors were; , anxious to be helped. Unless the country, however, went in for an enormous borrowing policy it could not meettho demands for railways which were being made. Not long ago tho people of Opunake had said that what was required by the district was a harbour, and the Government legislated for that. What, ho asked, had blocked the harbour development ? 1 Mr. Dudley: The area is so'small, you so cut it down, that it is no good to us. Sir Joseph Ward said tho House had reduced the rating area. .Ho repeated that bo could not sny whether the railway would bo provided for of not. A member of tho deputation; We are quite prepared to rote ourselves for the railway. i _ ,

Sir Joseph Ward; That is what other people are prepared to do. There is no virtue in guaranteeing a railway where it is likely to pay. If the guarantee was going to help ns it would be different. If wq were prepared to construct railways where guarantees were offered, borrowing to the extent of four or five millions per year would be required. , Mr. Dudley: Why not do so, if the oxnonditurc would ho reproductive? Sir Joseph Ward That is only one feature of the question, only one consideration. If that was the only difficultv we could settle the matter very quickly, hut we could do the country a. very groat injury if we were to launch out' in response to the, .very,, pressing requests which are being made for railway construction. -It took twenty-five years to bring the general railways to their present position, a‘result-which was due to the fact that several lines were under construction at one time. Mr. Dudley; Wo will borrow the money for this line outside and hand it to you if you will make it. Sir Joseph Ward said the Govern; ment could got the money cheaper than the settlers could. There was no difficulty About getting the money, but- the whole question . centred round the amount of money which the Government could borrow in any one year. The whole question would he carefully considered. . Mr. Dudley: Mr. Hall-Joncs said that the (ipnnake line would be one of the first that would be started after the Main Trunk Line was finished. Sir Joseph Ward said the Government could not be bound by anything the rx-Mhi'ster had said. The question could only he dealt with when the Public Works’ Estimates were being framed, and iho deputation, could not extract from- the Government any promise as to the making of the railway. Sir Joseph Ward also stated that offers to rate for the railway or an alternative proposal that the' settlers should raise the money and hand it to the Government were not feasible. The country had to carry the liability just the same. . The Hon. R. M'Kenzic said he proposed to visit Taranaki as soon as he conk!. It had to be remembered that £IOO.OOO was sperit on the StratfordOngarue Railway last year,, and that lino had to he carried to ; Whangamomona. Until that point was reached ho did not think any new railways could ho started in Taranaki. Indeed, he was doubtful whether any new railways could be started in New Zealand this year. The railways already in hand had to bo pushed .on , towards completion. Tho Government could not borrow three or tour millions per year. If they did the Opposition would say ihov were ruining the country. Mr. Dudley: They say that now.