THE LEVIN-GREATFORD LINE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 491, 26 April 1909, Page 3

THE LEVIN-GREATFORD LINE.

A CHARGE OF PAROCHIALISM. WARMLY REPUDIATED. (BY TELEGRAPH—SrECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) " ' . Mar ton, April. 25. At, a meeting of the Marton Chamber of Commerce on Saturday the chairman reported that at a: meeting of the Feilding Chamber the president, who attended the recent conference in Wellington, was reported to have said that ho had objected to a remit from the Martori Chamber in reference to the proposed Levin-Greatford lino as a parochial matter that should not have been brought before the conference, and that ho had reason to believe that the remit had not received much .consideration. Mr. Purnell wanted to know if this was parochialism that through passengers south of. Levin and north of Marton are compelled, to travel 15 miles further in distance,, and one hour longer' in' time, than is necessary, and, incidentally, to pay fares for extra mileage, and that consignors and consignees; are compelled to pay freight oil all through goods sent l over tho present unnecessary distance. The Department have at present to haul passengers and goods over a line having severe curves and, lioavy -grades between Feilding and Marton, whereas the proposed route is almost in a direct line:and level, and would permit locomotives to haul practically twice the; load they do on the present line. In June, 1895, tho Government refusod to allow a syndicate, backed up by £250,000, to construct. the proposed deviation. ' -Tho 'president further stated itliat. there' wore other minor reasons, but he. thought the last" reason was sufficient to prove that the question had become, of; national importance; and that the Government should at least carry out what it had refused to allow .a . syndicate to, do naturally fourteen years ago.: He said that''it would have been to the credit of the Feilding president to have attacked the . proposal on its merits, which he was now challenged to do,' instead of attempting to .draw the red herring of parochialism across 'the: scent. Owing to the unavoidable non-attend-ance of the delegates of ; the Marton Chamber at the recent conference, the remit touching the Marton-Lovin railway had been withdrawn from the order paper. It; would, he said,' have been, much better if the Feilding president. had' stated facts instead* of voicing, tho innuendo that the remit did not receive much consideration. It. was difficult to .understand what possible objection Feilding could have towards the proposal, as another line of railway could not but be to'the general advantage .of the district through which it would' run, and ,the natural, situation of Feilding assured that it would largely partisipate in the advantages, which would occur from the construction; of ' the proposed line.