FALMERSTON RAILWAY STATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 4

FALMERSTON RAILWAY STATION.

A DEPUTATION. ffij Telocranli.-SDeclal OorresDondenU Auckland, March 13. The deputation organised by tho Chamber of Commerce comprising representatives from various local institutions waited on the Minister for Knihrnys to-day as ho passed through Palroerslon on his way from Auckland to Wellington. Those present were: Mr. D. liuick, M.P.. the Muvor (Mr. J. A. Nash), Messrs. M. A. Elliott (president of the Chamber' of Commerce), G. Ilirsch (secretary), R. M. M'Kivight and P. L. Sim 'Auctioneers' Association), T. I!. Hodder (A. and P. Association), SI. O'Reilly (Borough Council), L. R. Bryant (chairman Kairanga County Council). An apologv for absence was received from Mv. R. M'lNab, Tho deputation was introduced by Mr. Buick. "Mr. Elliott said the deputation had not como to tho Minister to find fault with the alterations and additions he proposed to make at the railway station, but they wished for something more adequate and in keeping with tho growing needs of the town and district. He was afraid that even with tho alterations the Department proposed to make the congestion which caused so much trouble would continue. He would quote figures to show that with the exception of the HauiHton-l'riinkton Station the business at no other station in the Dominion had shown such an enormous increase as Palmcrston, and the figures went to show that they were entitled to an entirely now station, and a complete rearrangement of the station yard so as to cope, not only with the present traffic, but the very largo increase that was likely to oomo about in the near future. With α-cference to the propc«al to erect an island platform to be connected with bridges, there was a very strong feeling that the connections should bo made by subways, the bridges being both troublesomo and dangerous. Ho trusted the Government would seriously consider the matter, and givo them a new stati.in. The Mayor, and Messrs. Hodder, M'Knight, and Bryant also spoke in similar strain. . , Mr. Millar, in reply, pointed out that the in:roise of business referred to by (lie chairman of the Chamber of Commerce was in largo part due to tho divergence of traffic from the Hawke's Bay side, tho whole of which now went through Pnlmcrston. The suggestion made that a platform .should bo erected on the Church Street side of the railway station could not be given effect to, as the goods trallic would in that case be diverted to the other side. It was proposed, on the contrary, to keep the whole of the goods tiatfic to the Church Street side, the passenger traffic'being kept to the nuiin street side. In reference to the building, he was face to face with a difficult problem. They hud to •.omember that similar requests were being made all over the Dominion. If they wanted a new building they must, be prepared to borrow money for it. It was useless to him to give effect to (heir wishes and next day to condemn the Government for borrowing monev. Ho would lo I lie b0.4 be posHblv coiild to ir.ake Ihe >t:ilimi suitable lor the business Unit km.- transacted her?. Mr. Buick briefly thanked the Minister fnr his courteous reception of tho deputntinn. nnd for the nr.vnised alteration. Mr. Miltav replied Hint the alterations ,1-f-rn 'Win? done to suit tho needs of the Dcjjirtmciit,