TRUNK LINE OR "FEEDERS?"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11938, 27 March 1914, Page 4

TRUNK LINE OR "FEEDERS?"

'1 he .Pahiatua Herald is again up in arms because of the fact that avc .ire still advocating the construction of th' 3 Masterton-Waipnkurau railway. In a lecent issue that advocate of parochialism hastens to condemn what it adv ocates:—''While giving unstinted endorsement to the scheme for pioviding flic Coast with adequate harbour facilities the two Mastertou papers, still inJhieuced by parochial considerations, returns unabashed to the agitation for the early construction of the proposed Jino from Masterton to Waipukurau, urging that this would "omplote the opening up of the wide area of rich country aiVe;--Ud," says the Herald. "In the recent controversy on this subject it w.is shown in those columns beyond the possibility of successful refutation that the one through line, despite the sive cost, would not accomplish the :>bject of giving all parts of the district ready access to the railway. The benefit would fall on a restricted area, while many settlers, meriting equal consideration, would be left out in the cold. On the other hand the more popular and inexpensive scheme to project 'feeders' out from various points was indisputably shown to be the only means of .effectively serving the isolated areas and bringing all parts into close proximity to a railway service .... The sooner these essential and incontrovertible aspects of the situation are admitted by the suitporters of parochialism, and the problem faced as a national one,-with resultant unity of purpose, the 500n ,, ! , will the opening of the extensive conn try bo brought about." We are at a loss to understand the grounds on which onr contemporary feels justified in ieferring to '' the more popular and inuxpomnA'c scheme of 'feeders.' " Perhaps that journal is so wrapped up in the wants of Pahiatua that it has never heard of the Greytown-Woodside line. We have seen enough of "feeders" no* to wish to see any more of them. They may be less expensive at the outset, but they will prove to be more cost'y in the long run. Masterton in its efforts towards Wairarapa, Hawke's B:iy and Wellington progress has much to contend Avith owing to the short-sight-edness of surrounding townships.