EAST COAST RAILWAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2459, 25 March 1909, Page 2

EAST COAST RAILWAY.

MEETING AT HASTINGS.

BRANCH OF THE LEAGUE FORMED.

A meeting of the Hastings Chamber of CommerOe and the public interested in the prosecution of the Napier-Gis-borne railway was held at the Council Chambers on Monday evening, with the object of forming a. Hastings section of the East Coast Railway League, Mr.. E. H. Williams, and. subsequently Sir William Russel presided, over 40 per-; sons being present. THE TIME FOR ACTION. ; Sir William Russell said he was glad to see such a good representative meeting. The fact that the railway system terminated at Napier prevented a large number of people from coming through this, district. The whole scheme of railway construction in the past was to benefit the consumers only, and 'it seemed only fair to him- that, .the taxpayers should share in,, the advantages. Comparing the size of . various provinces in Now Zealand, he said he foundthat the smaller provinces did not get their fair share of the public expenditure, owing probably, to the fact that they had not the influence in voting' power behind them. It was necessary for those interested in the district to work hard and to see that .they got what was . due to them, because . now that settlement was progressing, it was not only possible but fight that the. whole district should be connected with the railway scheme of the Dominion. He did. pot believe that the Gisborne-. ' Auckland connection was. as. important as the Gisborne-Napier, because in the former case, persons desiring;to go to Wellington or the South Island would have to traverse two sides of a triangle, instead of going in a direct line, besides which the Napier-Gisborne connection would not only benefit these districts but would tend to develop the whole of the North Island. - : WOULD TAP MILLIONS OF ACRES. Mr. E. H. Williams regretted he had only a. few minutes in which to address them as, owing to liis early departure for England, lie had engagements to keep. He had, however, already expressed his views at other meetings and they had probably read the newspaper reports. The initial stages had been got over and a league was now formed by various bodies interested, and indeed it was amazing that a district like the East Coast, with millions of acres, should have been so long neglected. They,had never before, got so far in the agitation for the East" Coast Railway as to form a league, 4 which meant presenting a united planax to urge'the Government to put the work in hand without delay. In criticising the Government’s policy of railway construction in the Dominion he said that, in view of the country through -which it passed and the districts united, the Midland railway was one of the worst railways ever projected, swallowing up millions of money. The country between Christchurch and the West .Coast was not to be compared to the NapierGisborne country, where a railway would tap millions of acres of first and second-class lands. The country intervening between Napier and Gisborne had no roads for the reason that they could not- get metal, and this great impediment to successful settlement could only be got over by putting the iron horse through to Gisborne and connecting that town with‘the national system of railways. He was pleased to hear that the project had received a good deal of support in Napier and Gisborne. He hoped the general enthusiasm would keep the league) alive and thus its members would use their energies to send the proposal ahead in the cause of the whole country. He was himself going on a visit to the Old Country, but he trusted that, in his absence, the league, would create fervor .amongst the people and collect data with the object of impelling the Government to push on the railway. Generally speaking he was averse to appealing to the Government but this was really a case in which it was the duty of the Government to help, and, if they declined, the people should undertake the work themselves. He considered that if-the case was placed before the Government in a proper manner, the arguments would be irrestible, but if the Government could not finance then the people should assume the burden themselves, and the Government could assist by making a grant of land as had been done in the case of the Manawatu railway. In case the Government were not prepared to make a grant of land Mr. A. L. D. Fraser had propounded a scheme whereby the people could lend the money to the Government. He felt that he almost owed them an apology for' leaving New Zealand’ at this juncture and, in wishing them farewell, he >askcd them to spare no endeavor to forward the proposal to success, which was its legit-, imate issue. ; ~ THE N ATT YE DIFFICULTY.

Mr. Dillon, M.P.. said lie would extend the proposal his Hearty support hut he raised the levying .^huiion^a:. pative- lands*iil. vieiT of the Treaty of Waitangt.Citing the Home Government might interfere on account of making the native laud liable. Mr. E. H. Williams said that. - the area affected .comprised 200,000 atores..of Grown lands* and 300,000 acres of native lands, and it was only a question of legislation to get a grant of the Grown lands and making the native lands contribute, especially as -the railway , would largely increase the value of the native lands. He assured Mr. Dillon that it was not a concern of the Home Government but was purely a matter of New Zealand legislation, and he was aware that the natives between here and. Gisborne were, in favor of the proposal,'because they knew the value of a railway along their lands. BON VOYAGE. _ _ At this stage Mr. William’s engagements'"compelled him. to leave and, on the motion of Mr. Dillon, M.P.\ fi resol-ution-was carried thanking Mr. Williams for the keen interest in the proposed work and wishing him a pleasant voyage and a safe return borne. Mr. Williams returned thanks : in a short and appropriate speech. THE SURVEY.. Mr,; A. L; D. Fraser said. that the: formation of a league to foster the. scheme was the only course they could take. The construction-of -the ; East Coast line was not for the benefit of Hastings, Napier, or the East Coast alone, but for the prosperity, and advancement of the whole Dominion. .Mr* Hall-Jones had promised, him that he would have a. sum passed for the sur-vey-before he left for England, and this had been done.-; He" had a letter stating that dhe c survey might be expected to be commenced-in March arid it would be completed in a few months. It was then unanimously decided that a branch of the East Coast Railway League be formed at Hastings, and that those present in the room form a ■ committee; with prv/or to add 'to .thennumber. '■ ' ,j > * ; 1 HlJl