The Tuapeka Times. AND AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. " Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, 24th APRIL, 1909. THE LAWRENCE ROXBURGH RAILWAY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLI, Issue 5634, 24 April 1909, Page 3

The Tuapeka Times. AND AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. " Measures, not Men." SATURDAY, 24th APRIL, 1909. THE LAWRENCE ROXBURGH RAILWAY.

The splendid, response of the Dunedin people to the appeal on behalf of the .r JjawrencerJtoxburgh railway . must be viry gratifying to its supporters in . ..the country. All shades of political opinion in the provincial metropolis .. united for oonoe in condemning the • ■ fiovacnmeint's hasty and high-handed action. Seldom, indeed, do we find Dunedin politicians so unanimous, and all fair-mittded individuals must accept such almost unprecedented^ unanimity as a flattering testimonial" to the merits of the line. As an answer to the fulminations from snarling "Southland, which, being able to get {he first pick from the Tasmanian fruit, cargoes, would blitlhely save the Dominion the . expense of railing Teviot produce, the Dunedin meeting was very effective. There seems to be a good deal of ignorance prevalent down south,especially about Gore of matters in. connection with the fruit trade.- We are therefore justified in imparting some rudimentary instruction on this subject to those farthest south public bodies which, like the Gore Borough Council, object to the building of the railway to carry fruit, on the ground that fruit can be carried only for a few months in the year. There is an article which, peradventure, is consumed by the people •of Gore, .called tinned or canned fruiJt. Of this article imftnaase quantities are imported into the Dominion of New Zealand from California and other countries. • Canned fruit can be carried 1 on a railway all the year round. There is a canning factory at Roxburgh. • If the railway were extended' to that centre several can- " rang factories would be, started, which would provide loading for the railway even during other seasons than ' summer, and, incidentally, save the people of this country the y expense of providing the wages ,of labourers and the profits of fruit-grow-ers' in California. So much for the objections of the Gore Borough Council. But, coming back to the Dunsdin meeting, w«T think the most practical suggestion emanating therefrom wag • .that of Mr A. Moritzsbn. This gentleman proposes to form a company tc guarantee the Gbvermmeiit 3 per cent on the expense of constructing tiM line. If the.business people and otn ers interested will endorse this propo sition, and subscribe the few thous ands required, there will be no excu3< for the Government if it still refuse: * to meet the wishes of the people o Otago. We commend the proposal tc '«(ll settlers who have faith in the ul timate profitableness of the line.