TE ARO RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 6

TE ARO RAILWAY.

"NO INTENTION OF CLOSING IT."

EIGHTS AND RECRIMINATIONS. There is a distinct difference oT opinion in the council of the Chamber of Commerce respecting the value of the Te Aro extension of the Government railways.

The matter cropped up somewhat unexpectedly a< a meeting of'the council held a month' ago, and was renewed yesterday. ■Is the result of a resolution proposed by Mr.'E. G. Pilchor at" the previous imeeting, it had been resolved to write to the Minister for Railway*, advising him ot the reasons of the majority of I lie comuyr who-were against the continuance ot the service to Te Aro. The letter forwarded included the following statement :- "It is now being urged that a goodsstation should be established at the .te \ro end of the line, about a mile away from the present terminus, where facilities are already atYorded. for the sorting and distribution of inward and outward «ootls. The estimated cost of such provision, according to the Public Works Statement of 1593, is .£BOOO.. .The inconvenience ' and difficulty of working what would praclicnlly.be a second terminus for goods traffic need not be enlarged upon, as it will be known to your Department. The object of the clutmber is. to protest against further -unwarrantable expenditure upon what is certain to prove .- useless provision. The extra expense and delay which must inevitably be the re=ult of dividing the goods trauic in the manner suggested would effectually preclude any advantage to be derived from it . I. My council would respectfully remind you "that a well-considered and comprehensive plan, having 'in mind the future expansion of the city, was decided' upon many, years ago, and provision made for about GO acres ot station area in a suitable position. The main lines of this plan have, it is understood, been followed by the municipal and harbour authorities in the course of the works, and improvements made by them during the past 20 years. To depart from' this scheme at the present juncture for the purpose of satisfying any section of the community would, in the opinion of the .Wellington Chamber, be a serious mistake, and lead to confusion aud disorganisation." ... , . To the foregoing letter, the Minister replied that the whole position would be carefully reviewed, but at present there was' no' intention of closing the le Aro Railway Station. ■

A Breeze in the Council,

Before the Chamber of Commerce proceeded to discuss business at .yesterday s meeting, the chairman (Mr. Mabin) said that there was a matter to which he had to refer with regret. He considered that, it was the duty of members of the council to'-uphold the honour and prestige of the Chamber oh all occasions, and in. any', writings or ■ correspondence arising out of the-proceedings they should endeavour to adopt- a tone that, would not'lower the chamber in .the. eyes of the public. He. had to deplore the language that had been used in the papers, it had been implied that some members of the Chamber hid beso' actuated by selfinterest,, a statement which did not come very well from anyone connected with the Chamber. They had their differences of opinion on all questions,, but the minority must accept the decisions of the majority. Let the differences be discussed there and in the press, but in such a manner that would not reflect upon.Hr*; Chamber. -. Mr. .Leigh Hunt: "If- your remarks apply to an-individual, r.would ask you tu elaborate them." The "The .ireliiai-ks arc general, and V don't wish" to elaborate thorn." I have no 1 wish'to'proceed-further with the matter at all. It must ba evident to members why tbe remarks were made." . ' ■ Mr. Leigh Hunt was about ta rife, when Mr. C. Jones rose to a point of order. "There is a recognised rule," said Mr. Jones, "that when a matter has beeu thrashed out it was not to be brought up again within a reasonable period—tnrea or six months." Mr. Leigh Hunt: "It is not nvy intention to waste, the- time of the council, I assure you, but as the matter had not been placed on the order paper I could make no explanation. In the first place I regret that it ,was brought up at tho last meeting—:—." „„ The chairman: "What is your motion.Mr. Leigh Hunt: "The motion is that the council give further consideration to the extonsion of the Te Aro railway station. ■ The chairman: "That is no motion. You must restrict yourself to new matter." Mr. Leigh Hunt: "Do I understand that I am not to be allowed to speak because I was" not ablo to attend the last meeting through illness?" The chairman: "You are not to debate the matter. We cannot go all over .it again, because you, unfortunately, were not here. The motion can go to the vote, and, if carried, we will consider ' Mr. Leigh Hunt: "If that is you ruling, I must how to if, and sit down (resuming his seat). - The chairman: "You don 1: appear to realise that this matter has been discus=ed,- and discussed ad naiiseum both here and in the .press. The decision of the majority must be accepted. . Mr. Leigh Hunt: "I have the nglu to make an explanation. It doesn't matter a h'K to me whether it is carried or whether it isn't. I think more consideration should be given to an absent member. The remarks may apply to ins, for all The chairman: "Will anyone second the motion?" ~ ~T i . After a panse, Mr. Ballinger said: Its bound to be beaten, but I'll second it.' Mr. Hunt: "It's futile of me to go on with the matter as I intended, seems that you deny me the right to speak, and I withdraw the motion.'