THE DOMINION'S RAILWAYS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 1 September 1908, Page 5

THE DOMINION'S RAILWAYS.

HON: HALL-JONES INTERVIEWED:

(Per Press Association.) \ . WELLINGTON, August 31. ? A deputation; comprising;<,th6. Auck-, land members of Parliament and about 'twenty representatives "of the local interests in the Auckland district, waited on the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. W. Hall-Jones) to-day, urging the speedy construction of the fcorfch Auckland', Ongaruhe-Stratford, "and Auek-land-Gisborne railway lines. They asked for a vote of £100,000 to extend the ! Helensville northward line to Maunga- I turoto, and a vote for further surveys. , The Gisborne, or East Coast line was put , forward as a national work, and ijhe ' deputation favoured a route via Opotiki, whakatane, Tauranga, Waihi, and Paoroa to Auokland, which would tap the great Piako Swamp lands. In reply, the Minister said the deputation had mentionedl six separate lines. He agreed that a great deal of work remained to be done in the Auckland province. The most important work urged was the North Auckland Main Trunk, but when the deputation asked for £100,00 he would remind them that the North Island Main Trunk line was not yot completed. As to the extension to Maungaturoto, the Government could increase the number of men employed on the line now if men were available. There would be a vote for that line that would satisfy him (the Minister), though if would probably not satisfy the deputation. He hoped to see a larger vote for the Gieborne line, but exhaustive surveys as to the best route had yet.to be made. As soon as an officer was available he would have a trial survey made of the Kawhia line, rsothing could be done regarding the Stratford-Ongaruhe line till the surveyors' report on it was available; The Whangarei-Kawakawa line should be pushed bn, also the northern surveys. Mr Hall-Jones took occasion to deny that the railways fares in Now Zealand were higher than, those in ths Commonwealth, and quoted figures in support of his argument.; . "