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JOHNSONVILLE DEMANDS.

t BETTER STATION WANTED. _i_j Improvements in and about the Joluisonvnlo Railway Station wero asked for by a deputation irom the Town Board, which, interviewed tho Hon. W. H. lier.ries yesterday afternoon. Mr. W. 11. D. Bell, M.P., introduced the deputation. Mr. 1". T. Moore, chairman ol liic Town Board, said that there was urgent necessity for a new railway station and yards at Johusonville. The existing station was tlw worst in the Dominion, considering the population that it served, and at tho samo time one of the most dangerous in tho Dominion. Train's could only approach it on one side, and considering how frequently trains met at the station, it was, ho urged, a marvel that no one had been killed. Another thing was that the railway at Johusonville crossed the street, and this constituted a menace to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. It had been hoped that improvements would bo effected when the Government took over the Manawatu Railway, but nothing was done. They wero informed that improvements were projected ,at. Johusonville, but that the money intended to cover their cost was spoilt instead at I'aelcakariki. In extending the railway station and yard at Johusonville, Mr. Mooro continued, tho Government should take in. tho existing cattle yards, and might also acquire the sale yards' owned by Messrs. Abraham and Williams. Johnsonville should no longer 'be a receiving depot for-cattle. It would l>enefit butchers and others if cattle were delivered at instead of Johnsonville. lie was informed that the land owned'by Messrs. Abraham and Williams could bo obtained at the Government valuation, and that if this were done that firm would join with others in erecting up-to-dato yards at Nghauranga. At present the dangerous railway accommodation at Johnsonville, and tho presenco of tho cattlc-yards, spoiled the prospects of tho placo as a residential centre. Captain Hall said that ho had presided at a meeting of householders in Johusonville, whih had passed a resolution supporting the attitude of the Town Board in this matter. There bad been many narrow escapes on the part of passengers leaving one train as another entered the station. At. Johnsonville the Railway Department deliberately broke its own regulation which forbade people to walk across the track by landing people on tho track.

The Minister: Do you think it would be better to alter tho train running so that trains would not meet? Captain Hall: As a layman, I think the best solution would be an island platform. He added that repeated representations in tho past had failed to elicit a decided reply from tho Department. He hoped that this would now be forthcoming. Mr. A. .T. May said that he had seeen many "hair-raising" escapes at tho Johnsonville station. Ho had himself pulled an old man oil the track just as a train approached, and had seen officers of the Railway Department save passengers at the risk of their own lives. Mr. May and Mr. AY. J. Thompson both suggested that representatives of the Johnsonville ratepayers might be permitted to inspect plans of any works proposed at Johnsonville so that if necessary suggestions could be made to the Department. The Minister, in replying, said that the proposition of the deputation seemed to resolvo itself into two: first, tho removal of the sale yards, and, second, the improvement of the existing accommodation at Johnsonville. The Railway Department had no power to prevent sales taking place, or to interfere with any man's freehold property or his business. If, as suggested by Mr. Moore, the Government took tho present sale yards, that would not prevent other sale yards being established somewhero else if land could be obtained. He understood that his Department had been for some time anxious to improve the accommodation at Johnsonville, but, like many other things, it was a matter of cash. He hoped to ask Parliament for 41500,000 for additions to open lines, but perhaps might get 42100,000 as he had last. year. The amount might even be reduced to .£300,000. Ho could not say what- improvements would be effected at Johnsonville until he knew what money would'lie available for additions to open lines. The work at Johnsonville, ho believed, would have to be done when funds were anvilable, but ho must warn them that there were many other works throughout- the Dominion in (lie same position, and he must try to distribute fairly what money was available. The crossing of trains was undesirable. It might be possible to alter the train services so that the trains would not cross at .Tohn c onville, but at some place not so thickly poulated. A difference of ten minutes or a quarter of an hour in the running of some trains might suffice to effect this. In regard to plans, he would be glad, when these had been prepared, and tho Department was ill a position to go on with the work to let Hi" chairman of the Town Board look at them. If the chairman made any suggestions of value, the Denartinenf would be quite ready to meet him. Mr. Bell said that the reference to sale yards was intended onlv to inform the Minister that the land on which tie l present yards slood conJd.be obtained, ond that no hostility would be incurred tor removing the sale yards.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19130530.2.6

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 30 May 1913, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
885

JOHNSONVILLE DEMANDS. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 30 May 1913, Page 3

JOHNSONVILLE DEMANDS. Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1763, 30 May 1913, Page 3

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