Paeroa Junction, on the Auckland-Thomes line.

During recent years a great deal has been said concerning the part played by the Railways in the economic life of this Dominion; hence it is of interest to consider the possibilities offered by a new railway—the Stratford Main Trunk—as a factor of importance in the field of transport. Although the line has taken well over thirty years to reach a stage of virtual completion, the original purposes for which it was mooted are still of patent significance to both Auckland and Taranaki. The commercial potentialities of the connection have not always received enough attention from those who should be especially interested; the question of the future expansion of interprovincial business has, at times, been entirely ignored; but now, on the eve of the completion of a work which was commenced in 1901 there are, despite the handicaps of the past, many enthusiastic supporters who have unbounded faith in the project.

A Return to the Rail.

In outlining those points which ensure the success of the railway, one notes, firstly, that throughout the country there is a definite “return to the rail” and a marked abhorrence of wasteful duplication of transport services. The turn of popular favour cannot be denied, and public opinion is behind the recently enacted legislation to co-ordinate and stabilize road and rail haulage. This fact makes every rail route capable of catering for all the transportation needs in the area traversed. The Stratford route has no serious competitor, and its completion comes in days when the prospects for the railways are decidedly bright.

The District's Resources.

Popular favour, however, will be no more important than the support to be found in the realm of heavy haulage. The section, Ohura to Whangamomona, penetrates a coalarea of vast extent and hitherto scarcely touched. Oil, too, is in evidence, though its presence in commercial quantity has never been proved. The timber industry will undoubtedly find the railway an essential factor in the expansion of trade. One sawmilling firm with a plant capable of producing 20,000,000ft. of timber per year hopes to utilize the new railway for the distribution of at least 25 per cent. of its output as well as for an extension of its white pine business with dairy companies. Then there is the stock-carrying facility to be provided in an area which, in its present undeveloped state, forwards in one season 25,000 sheep to Taranaki. Droving and road charges compare most unfavourably with the low cost of railing such stock. Bullocks, also, even at the rate of five to a truck, can be transported more cheaply by rail. Although the future value of the line is not to be found primarily in the country which is traversed by its middle section, the carriage of fertilizers will materially benefit this area, and ultimately ensure the prosperity of many a struggling settler. The huge extent of country between Poro-o-tarao and Tangiwai, page 39 and the whole of the Ohura section, embrace numbers of valleys and hilltops which will respond profitably to treatment with suitable fertilizers. It has been stated by one well-qualified to express an opinion that the productiveness of this central area of the route, embracing most of the King Country, will increase by at least 300 per cent. within fifteen years after the line has been in established working order, and the right fertilizers have been in use. The Smart Road manure-works will be the closest to all stations within this area. It is said on good authority that a great refrigerating and meat-packing concern, operating in both Australia and New Zealand, is now contemplating definite alteration of existing plant and extension of facilities, in order to cope with increased business to be brought to its works by this new route.

Confidence in Future of the Railway.

In referring to a letter from a leading Taranaki manager of this branch of industry we quote this passage:—

“We feel that the line will benefit the Auckland district considerably by bringing cheaper coal and timber to the Taranaki district—two items which are largely used in the running of a freezing works. … The position, as viewed by us, is that it will certainly give the port of New Plymouth wider trade. … It may be found on referring to Railway tariffs, that it would be cheaper to rail wool from parts of the Taihape district to New Plymouth, rather than to Wanganui or Wellington.” The writer has consulted many business people who are in a position to state facts and make shrewd estimates. In both Auckland and Taranaki the optimism concerning this railway is spreading apace.

The port of New Plymouth will undoubtedly benefit from increased trade due to the wider development of the whole of Eastern Taranaki and the greater part of the King Country. The same point applies to imported necessities as to exportable produce, Moturoa being the “natural” port for this very extensive area. This leads to a further consideration. By way of New Zealand's nearest-to-Sydney port and the new railway, overseas mails and passengers could reach Auckland fully half-a-day earlier than at present. Such deep-sea shipping facilities at its terminus open up many possibilities for the line.

Of Benefit to Auckland.

The advantages offered by the Stratford Main Trunk from an Auckland view-point are to be found not only in the increased market for coal and timber, but also in the more extensive use of all merchandise in an area which can be fully settled and developed only through the use of railway transport. If good metalled roads are constructed at right-angles to the railway at certain points on the line, it is undoubtedly true that the back-country will develop extensively. For Taranaki business which must be transacted in either Auckland or Wellington, the latter city will be the loser to the formers' advantage, because all the improved transport facilities in the newly-developed area will lead toward the nearer centre. For passengers, too, the Stratford line will provide a useful stand-by for rapid through-transit in the event of mishap on the Central Main Trunk. From a scenic view-point the new railway will rival, if not excel, the older route, especially in the Tangarakau and Central Taranaki areas. For many miles the rails thread their way through a Forest Reserve of giant rimus and totaras, greater than those in the Egmont National Park. There they stand in towering majesty calmly overshadowing the neat new track with its modern artistic steel-work and gentle curves. In the Mangaone and Mangatete valleys particularly, the rail-traveller will view a wealth and variety of shrub and fern growth even more prolific than that in the nearby Tangarakau Gorge.

“Should Inaugurate a New Era of Prosperity.”

That rapid and adequate means of intercommunication between the two great provinces of Auckland and Taranaki are essential if commercial interests in both areas are to expand to the full, is being quickly realised by thoughtful and far-sighted business people. That the new Stratford Main Trunk will provide for a long-felt want is recognized by all but the most sceptical. With page 40 the general reaction against the wasteful duplication of transport services and with the general return to the rail, the opening of the line should inaugurate a new era of prosperity and profitable inter-relation between these hitherto separated districts. Road communication has gone only some of the way toward providing for this need. Now that the rail is here, cheaper, safer, and far more rapid haulage of the heaviest of merchandise will not only be possible, but will rapidly become an element of growing importance. It may be said here that with the awakening of popular interest by bold advertising, the prospects of the line will be further brightened. It is from the Great Public that the real backing will come. By far the greater portion of the population of the North Island can and will be served by the new trunk route. It is in the interests of these people and of taxpayers generally, through the Railway Department, that the possibilities and the capabilities of the line as a part of New Zealand's National Transport System has been explored.

On The Route Of The Stratford Main Trunk Railway.
The Tangarakau Gorge, where the rail-traveller will view some of the finest bush scenery in the North Island.

An Appreciation

In a recent letter to the District Traffic Manager, Invercargill, the Director, Henderson and Company, Ltd., Invercargill, comments as follows on the assistance rendered by the Railways Department in connection with the prompt dispatch of the steamer s.s. “Port Hunter,” from the Bluff:—

“This steamer, which berthed at midday on Saturday, 16th July, and sailed at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 20th July, discharged 1,300 tons of general cargo (780 tons of which was in one hatch) and loaded 43,172 packages of frozen meat, etc., 3,466 crates of cheese, and a quantity of general cargo.

“We consider this a remarkably smart despatch and feel that it would not have been possible of achievement had it not been for the excellent service rendered by your Dpartment. We therefore desire to place on record our appreciation of the very fine work done by the Railway Department, and express our thanks to the Stationmaster at Bluff and his staff, for the courteous and efficient manner in which they assisted us.”