LIGHT RAILWAYS

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14263, 14 January 1920, Page 7

LIGHT RAILWAYS

Light railways are at last appearing on dm horizon as a practical proposition (says Ihe Dominion). A league lias been formed to construct a line from Frankton Junction to Kawhia and Raglan as a local enterprise, and has secured such support that it talks of having the work completed in two years. The Clifton, Awakino, and Waitomo County Councils, in conjunction with other Taranaki bodies, are also moving for a line from Waitara to Te Kuiti. 'Uliis is a much more ambitious project than the Kawhia undertaking and lias created some division of opinion. Some of the settlers concerned are for a light railway, others declare that a standard line is essonthl, and others again opine that the railway agitation will end in a vote for a line, in the Public Works Estimates, which vole will not lie spent hut will he made art excuse for curtailing work on the main road. The absence of road metal makes the opening up of the country between the Taranaki and Main Trunk lines an expensive and heartbreaking work for Hie local bodies. More money lias been sunk here with less return than in probably any other part of Hie Dominion. Before undertaking further piecemeal enterprises the first necessity is a well-thought-out plan for opening up the whole area by road, river, and railway.