TOO GOOD A CASE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1560, 2 October 1912, Page 4

TOO GOOD A CASE.

TE ARO RAILWAY- . HON. W. H. HERRIES INTER- . VIEWED. MORE LAND WANTED. Tho proposal to run more trains to Tβ Aro and to improve the ncco'iiniodntion at the station was again brought under tin' notice of the Minister for Railways (tho Hon. W. 11. Homes) yesterday, by a deputation from the Te Aro Railway league which was introduced by Dr. A. K. Newman. M.1 , . The Hon. F. M. B. Fi.-Jier attended during the latter part oi' tho proceeding.-!. Dr. .Newman recalled the fact that he had presented a petition to the Minister from 7'vOU people living round about 'Te Aro. The , * people, lie said, wero very keen in tiie mailer and were getting very .anxious to know whether anything .would bo done. i Mr. A. Leigh Hunt said that this question was of moment: to many people residing outside the city boundaries. The proposals of the league were supported by the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers, the Formers' Union, and various suburban associations. He had also received many letters from individual farmers who approved the proposals of the league, l-'o far ns tradesmen were concerned the position was become more acute every day. Some , months ago the railway authorities had decided not to allow their shed to help in loading carts. The result was that merchants and tradesmen had to send a sloreman one and a half or two miles away to help a carter, to load his cart. This was very inconvenient. jHe left sure that they had a great majority of the people of." Wellington and of the country districts with them. Opposition, was being offered to the proposals of !he league onU- by n few men. In many cases the same men sat. as representatives on different bodies' that,were opposed to the proposal?. Much of the opposition came from business men in the northern ond of the town who did not wish, the railway to go past them. - In lhS2. Mr.. Hunt mentioned ineouclusicii. -a sum of ,£BOOO was placed on tho Estimates to cover the cost of a goods Bhod and some reclamation work at To Aio. A Parliamentary paper had been issued containing a plan, which showed the goods shed, but so far nothing had been done. He tendered an apology on .behalf of Mr. J. G. Wilson, who was unable to be present, but sympathised with tho. league. Mr. ,f. Jack said that farmers had a considerable interest in the railway at tho Wellington end. A good many small fanners sold their produce in Wellington, and at present were mulcted in heavy .cartage charges, which would he reduced it railway facilities were increased'as proposed. The Farmers' , Union sympathised with the objects of the league. Mr. J. V. Luke said that, the league claimed not only that the present limited train .service, should be retained, but that the mail trailis should be run to Te Aro. They did not ask that all the local trains should lx» run to Te Aro. Unless provi-sion-was made to connect Mirnniar and the southern areas of the city with the • railway system, progress would be seriously checked. Evcuthe running of the present surfaco line to Tc Aro would imiw'se very few disabilities on the traffic from the wharves and shipping. lie regretted exceedingly, as a public man who had moved to introduce the electric tramway system, that this system was not likely to provide cheap and efficient transport for residents in outlying portions of the-city. - • ■ ■ Mr. F. G. Bolton said that surface railways were run through the city of Oakland, . and so far as he knew few ■tecidents'occurred;--. The proposal to run a city freight-car'service instead of utilising the lino to To Aro did not merit wriou.-, consideration. . Mr. Bolton stressed the point.that the same men,(sitting on different, bodies, had opposvd the proposals of the league. . A majority- of the Hirbour Board members,'.he said, were country and suburban, representatives. There were.five members from the city of Wellington, and these five governed the position. -The editor of the only newspaper; that opposed , tho proposals of tho'league was also a member of the Harbour Beard, nnd in that capacity, fulminated against the .proposals."p.f r tlie ; league. He did not wish';to njakc'anj- attack on the gentleman, but merely to show how this opposition .was"biiilt 'up.-' "That the,, majority of the people of- Wellington approved the. .proposal-to improve To .Aro was best nhon-n by the petition which the league tad put in.

Mr. D. .'Robertson said that at. the initiation of the line the people of Wellington had been promised nil the things they were asking'for now, but they had been put off from time to time. If the cheap improvements asked for were given it would make tho station a paying concern and .would advance the interests of tho bulk of the people of Wellington. Dr. Newman said tlmt several trains ran empty to and from Te Aro during the day. If these trains were cut out the few people now using them could be curried by the tramcars. Country trains could be run instead, and the total volume of traffic over the line need not bo increased, only "dead" traffic would bo replaced by traffic on a paying basis. The Hon. W. H. Hrrries said thai he had'inspected the station site. It was n. pity thta the Railway Department, wliile it. was about it, had not taken more laud. The deputation had made out too good a easel. There was too much traffic to warrant the Department in erecting a small shed at Te Aro. His first idea had been to erect an inexpensive shed, at it cost of Ifss than .£IOOO. possibly at a cost of ■M(ia or .£7OO. He found that to accommodate the traffic now dealt with at Thorndon which would go to Te Aro if facilities existed it would require a shed 200 feet; by 35 feet. To provide fol reasonable increase, fifty per cent, more accommodation would have to be nrovided, or a shed 300 ft. by 35ft, The Department had not got the land to build a shed of that kind, and it would be simply wasto of money to build a small shed. Hfl could 'not expend .£SOOO this year because ho. had not got H, nnd indeed was short of funds for important works already authorised. The question was whether the Railway Department oould get any land from the Harbour-Board.

Dr. Newman: You can tako it compul6orily, can't yon I , Mr.' Herries: If we could talto it amicably' it would be far tetter. Mr. Robertson said ho was sorry to hear what the Minister had.said. "It is only killing w," he added. Mr. Herries: I am bound to be guided by my engineer. "Mr. Robertson: I would like to have a go with him! The Minister produced plans showing that the Department had not land at To Aro to accommodate a shed of the size mentioned." ' Dr. Newman: Do I understand, on behalf oftho deputation, that you will -negotiate, for a bit of land? Mr. Herries: I will make inquiries of the Harbour Board. Mr. Robertson: They are hostile. ■Mr. Herries: Are they? ' ■■ • ■ ■ Mr. Bolton: They'may not be when they hear that the Minister is favourable. ■ Mr. Herrits: There is no doubt that tho traffic to To Aro would bo very big. I think you have'proved your case so far as tint is concerned. Dr. Newman: You will try to get this land? Mri Harries: I will try to enter into negotiations with tho Harbour Board. What do you suppose that tho land is worth ? / ' Dr. Newman said that the land had no access, and the Minister concurred in this view,-remarking that the land would be of lise only to the Railway Department. Mr. Luke said that a new street was to lie made. ■ Dr. Newman suggested that, tin- Railway Department.'might exchange nn area nt T.horndou for the land wanted at. Te Aro. ' ' ' . • • ■