MR. J. B. WHYTE, M.H.R., AND THE CAMBRIDGE RAILWAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1287, 28 September 1880, Page 2

MR. J. B. WHYTE, M.H.R., AND THE CAMBRIDGE RAILWAY.

We yesterday received Hansafd No. 29 with Mr. Whyte's excellent speech on the Cambridge line, the full text of which will be read with interest.: — Mr. Wjiyte. — The honorable member for Bruce says it is veiy unfair to bring: on measures so late in the session. 1 quite agree with him, because most of my friends are away, and I wi-h they had stayed until this Railways Construction Bill had come on, when it would have had a much better chance. The honorable gentleman, in the coursft of his remarks, adduced a' very good argument indeed in favour of the construction of this line. He said that if the Government had not interfeied it would probably have been undertaken by private Enterprise. I think no stronger argument could possibly be brought forward in favour of the railway. I do not intend on this occasion to inflict upon the House a long harangue in favour of this railway. We have had plenty of that kind of thing this session. Honorable members from all parts of the colony have made long speeches on the subject of their particular railways, but I do not intend to bore the House with a long harangue on the subject of this line. However, I find that there is a great deal of misconception about this line, and I wish to put honorable members right. Although this is called a branch railway, it is not really, in my opinion, a branch at all. It is part, of the main trunk line through the North Island. It was originally intended to carry the main line from Te Awamutu through the King conntry ; but every one who knows much about the subject knows that there is not the least chance : of that being effected for the next ten years. Therefore it must go some other way, and if honorable members will read the evidence given before the Railway Commission it will satisfy them that the Cambridge route is the only one practicable, for the next ten years. The honorable member for Port Chalmers has said that he thinks a mnin trunk line through there is desirable, and, if he stands by his convictions, he ought to vote for the second reading of the Bill. Even from a local point of view, there i« a great deal of misconception on this question. People look upon this line and the Thames line as rival schemes. I maintain that they are not rival schemes at all. It appears to be admitted that it is desirable to connect the Waikato and Thames Districts, and surely no connection of that kind would be complete which left out the most rising and flourishing part of one of the district"*. If they were rival schemes, the Cambridge Railway would not have touched the Thames-Waikato Railway at all. It would have joined the main line farther up. As I understand it, the object of this Bill is simply to give the Government power to spend money in accordance with the report of the Railway Commissioners. The Commissioners were up there ; they took evidence on all sides, and saw the country for themselves. lam very sorry that the honorable member for Coleridge has gone away, as he could go into particulars, and, being an impartial man from a distance, he would perhaps be better listened to than myself. Ido not wish to express an opinion as to the relative value of the Thames-Waikato Railway and the Cambridge Railway ; but I would merely point out that, if funds are available during the year, the Government can complete the whole lino to Cambridge, whereas they can only run the other eleven miles farther, whioh will only bring tho railway to a point near Morrinsville. There is, I am sorry to say, a very small population in the lastnamed district just now, although I am glad to say that it is rapidly increasing*. I should personally be very glad to see the line carried to the Thames &eeinp, that it would be the means of spending £150,000 in my district ; but I know that to be impossible in the present state of the finances. In conclusion, I wish to repeat that the Government by this Bill wish to have powev to spend the money in the right place — the place, in fact, whioh will be immediately reproductive. I think their request is very reasonable, and I hope the House will see its way to grant it.