PALMERSTON RAILWAY STATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 54, 27 November 1919, Page 7

PALMERSTON RAILWAY STATION

» — ■ — ACCOMMODATION INADEQUATE (From Our Special Correspondent.) Palmerston, North, November 26. It lias loiu* been recognised that the railway station and goods yards and sheds nt Palmerston North are very muoh out of tiato. and are not in keeping with a oantre of 6uch imjKirtance ae tie district hue crown to, and it lids boen felt that somothine should bo done to provide for tho increased business passing through the station. Inquiries go to show that an average of between 1400 and 1500 car. riacea and trucks pass through the eta» lion every twenty-four hours, and ae thia is the nrincipal transhipping oentre for pjaces on tho Main Trunk, Kawko's Bar, and New Plymouth lines, it can be readllv understood that both tho yarde and the eoods 6hede aro constantly congested,. whilo tho occommodation for passengers, ( laree numbers of whom ohango trains at this iunction, is totally inadequate. Endeavours have_ been made from time to tiino to eot this stato of affaire remedied, but, bo far without result.

The matter came up for discu6eion at the annual meeting of the Manawatu EmTnoyere , Association last night, when Mr. Aiteheson eaid that tho existing conoi-tio-m were a disgrace to the town. The Rtuff could not be handled in the goods shtids as the congestion was 60 great, and the result was that a considerable loss oof time occurred, which is of considerable importance to business men. He eugKested that the Employers' Association should throw in its weight with the Chamber of Commerce, and enrteavour to eet tho Government to make a move. So lomr an tho local people "eat tight" so would the Government. If tho Government would not proceed just at nrosont with the erection of new station buildings altogether, they should at lenet provide moro accommodation in tho goods shed.

Mr. A. E. Bennett stated that in hie opinion the Borough Council was to blame for the delay-

Mr. W. M'lvenzio, speaking as secretary of tho local Chamber of Commerce, staled that in reply to inquiries made by him reciiraing-the closing of Cook Street, whhh was required to supply land for widgt:ine the Koodc yard, the Railway Dβnartment h«l stated that tho matter was not. vot iked. He had also been instructed to obtain a copy of the plans of the proposed alterations to the station and yard, but tin- Department hnd informeo! him that ttio plans wore not yet decided UDiUI

Mr. Aitche-.vm suggested that as the elections were approaching tho timo was owrlune f<n- the association to hold a nonfurence with the Chamber of Comnieixp. ani prtss for sonio finality in the mnttor. He moved in tiiat direction, an.l the motion was carried. The Bdieuflh Council's Case, Thn statement having been mado that th> BomuKh Council was 'responsible for thn Hlelnv in tin , erection of a new station, a Dominion representative interviawwi Mr. ,T. A. Nash, M.P., who is also Mnvor of the borough. Mr. Nash, said that tho statement wns absolutely incorrect. Tho Borough Council had waited uuon tho Railway Department upon several occasions urging that the work should bo proceeded with, and it had also offered to assiet in nuy possible way, and Cook Street could be closed as soon as tho Department was ready to take it over. The actual reason, for tho delay in extenaiiiß tho yanl was tho shortage of railway metals. The Department had huge supplies of these in Australia but they could not get shipping to bring them over. In support of thif? statement the Mayor pointed out that for Roinn cbnsidcrnblo time the council had been endeavouring to get a siding put into tho casworks, but the Department nould not find tho necessary material for its construction. In his position as member for Palmerslon ho had brought tho Question of the extension of the railway vards and the new station up jn tho House dnriiiß last session, ami had secured a promise that I hi' matter would receive consideration as soon as practicnble. Rα for as thn Horousli Council was concerned they hnd done all that was possible in Hie nwllor.'" ";■ "'