SUBURBAN DWELLERS IMPATIENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 231, 24 June 1919, Page 5

SUBURBAN DWELLERS IMPATIENT

-4 : ■ • BETTER COMMUNICATION WANTED RAILWAY SERVICE "A DISGRACE" At the meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening a large and representative deputation asked tho council to call a public meeting urging upon tho Government tho necessity of providing increased transit facilities between the Hutt' Valley and Wellington. In introducing tho deputation, Councillor Macaskill emphasised the absoluto necessity for providing better, communication with the city. He thought that the Government was not altogether to blamo, but rather the sluggishness and apparent indifference of' tho Hutt residents in the matter. ill'.. C. H: Treadwell (ono of tho speakers of tho deputation) then spoke, lio said .that they had all seen statements made by the Mayor, of Wellington recently regarding the question of tho amalgamation of Lower Hutt and Petone with tho eity. Personally, lie was opposed to tho .amalgamation' proposal. However, it was absolutely essential if the district . was to progress properly that better transit should bo provided either by train or electric tram. They undoubtedly had in Wellington the • best centre for trade in the Dominion, and thej (tho residents of tho Hutt district) wanted' to obtain systematic and quicker connection with the city, In his opinion the present railway tervico fras a disgrace. Before tho war tho servico had been quite good, but it had gradually gone from bad to worse. It was the duty of tho Mayor and councillors to call a public meeting to urgo tho improvement of tho servico upon the Government immediately. . This was not a local mitter, but concerned Petone anil other centres of settlement'in Iho district. In his opinion a better service could be provided either by the provision of additional trains or by the electrification of tho service. There was at present on the Statute Boole a clau.se prohibiting the running of trani9 'on the Hutt Uoad. He thought that, that was an absurd prohibition. Something should be dono immediately. : . ■ .Mr s G. AUport also spoke on the nuestion. lie thought that the time had tow arrived when tho 'tram servico should 'bo' improved. If the. Government could not or would not provide the improvements desired, then private enterprise should be allowed to' take a hand in the matter. A lot was now being said about the piovision of dwellings for the people; and in liira opinion there was no placo or suburb near. Wellington more suitable for tho erection of <v large number of dwelling houses than the Hutt Valley. The present moans of transit, however, would r.ot encourage people to live out there.. The cost of living would not go down nor wouAd rents decrease nntil a large number of additional houses had been built, and h.e wna satisfied that tho Hutt district was Hie most' suitable place for building purposes. At tho present time it was almost impossible to travel into Wellington in the evening, and such should not be. He was of opinion that if the Government would not improve the train service, the prohibition regarding the running., of" trams on tho Jlu.tt Road should bo immediately withdrawn. He was sure 'that private enterprise would take the matter up, as it would undoubtedly prove a payable proposition. 'Another point in favour of a tram service was the present position of the Lower Hutt railway station. It was in a most absurd placo: was too far iway from the chief centre of population. " Mr. H. 'Baldwin also spoke on silmlar lines. , The Mayor thanked the deputation and stated that a public meeting would bo i called in the near future. 1 Mr. Rishworth stated that the Mayor >f Petone had assured him of every support in the matter, and it was afterwards lecided to. instruct the Town Clerk to ■ ivrite to the Petone-Borough Coilncil advising them of the proposed meeting and also asking that similar action ]>e taken 'n Petone.