MANAWATU LINE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 9

MANAWATU LINE.

* DEVIATION PROPOSED. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEPUTATION. Some important proposals in regard to local railway affairs were brought under tho notice of the Hon. W. 11. Hemes (Minister for Bail ways) yesterday by a deputation from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which was introduced by Mr. W. 11. D. Bell, member for the Suburbs. Mr. Bell explained that tho deputation had come to advocate: The acceleration of the early morning and evening trains between Palmerston North and Wellington. Tho desirability of haying surveys made with a view to discovering the most practicable route for a deviation .of the railway to relieve traffic on the Manawatu line. A through booking system for goods on the New Zealand railways. In regard to the- proposed deviation, Mr. Bell said that it had always seemed to him that a comparatively inexpensive deviation would do' away with tho heavy expense of hauling trains up the hill at Johnsonville. Mr. A. E. Mabin, president of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, congratulated the Minister oir taking office. It was becoming. clearer every day, he said, (hat the Manawatu lino could not go on carrying the present heavy volume of traffic. As a constant traveller, heknew that many vexatious delays occurred. Duplication was a possible remedy, but tho Chamber of Commerce considered that a deviation of tho line and diversion of tho traffic would more cheaply answer tho same purpose. Different routes had been suggested. On? was ,iY ,va> ' uf Kgtihaurangti Gorge to Tawa Hit, and another from Rocky Point to lawtt Flat. Both of thesa would necessitate a deviation of tho lino from Plimmcrtoit, round tho coast, to Paekakariki. Another proposed roiito was from Belmont, / and a third ran through the Akararaiva Vnllay. He did not'know whether any of these routes were practicable, but the time had come' when the Government should have the necessary surveys made. This was a very important matter for this city, as it was absolutely necessary that it should liavc clear'lines'of-communication with the country districts. ' Mr. Mabin also urged the speeding up of the morning, and evening trains between Palmerston North and Wellington. At least, an hour's re? duction, ho claimed, might bo mado in the running of each of these (rains. In tho past they had been largely devoted : to goods traffic, but they should lie made passenger trains. The request for a through booking system was supported by twenty-two chambers of commerce in the Dominion. Such a sys'em would be of very material assistance to country settlors in marketing their produce. Mr. C. E. Jones said that the through ■booking of goods offered no greater difficulties than the through booking of passenger?. Tho Department might casily undertake tho trouble involved. Mr. Pilcher said that .'a system of through booking hadexistcd'in New Zealand some years ago. It was not well patronised then, but the demand for such a system was much greater now. Mr. A. I.eigh Hunt also advocated through booking, remarking , that- it would be a great convenience to country settlers, and would greatly, facilitate'trade. Innumerable producers' societies would be very grateful if the request were grantI ed. . Mr. J. M'Lellan further supported tho application. Dr. A. .K. Newman, M.P., i suggested that a rough survey should be made for a linn from a point near the Wellington Woollen Mills to Tawa Flat. The slow running of the morning and evening Palmerston trains was an outrage that had existed for many years; They did not want to cut out any stations, but there wore niisomhlo waits all along the liiio which could easily lie, cut out. Mr. Mabin read a letter from tho presiof the' Palmor.ston North Chamber of Commerce, apologising for absence, and strongly supporting the request of the de■putation. . Tho Minister, in replying, said that so far as he could see, the requests made wore, fairly' reasonable. ■ Tho slow running of the morning and evening Pnlmcr.stqu trains, he wa? informed, was already being'investigated by tho Department. He would see that these investigations were accelerated ,and an early reply would he given to tho'ronuest. of the deputation. Mr. Hemes said that he was cordially in accord with the suggestion about through booking of goods. -Anything that could be done in this connection would be done. The Government had already commenced negotiations with tho Union Company, but no conclusion bad yet been arrived at. He hoped soon to be able to announce that a system of through booking had been inaugurated. He woulcTlay the request for 'a survey of the proposed Manawatu deviation before the Minister for Public Works, arid ask that Minister to communicate with Mr. Mabin. -