LEVIN-GREATFORD DEVIATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 244, 9 July 1920, Page 7

LEVIN-GREATFORD DEVIATION

MINISTER PROMISES TO CONSIDER < IT. The revived agitation for the deviation of the railway from Wellington known as tho Levin-Greatford deviation was brought under the notice of'the Prime Minister yesterday by a deputation representative, of the districts affected. It was urged that tho deviation woe ovef practically level country, and that the new line would be straight. Mr. Massey, in. reply, said that he had not had an opportunity of going into tho respective proposals regarding the schemes as he could have wished and owing to stress of work might not be able to do so during the present session. He had to admit that-.the proposals looked well'on paper. He had no idea that thore would bo a saving of 15 miles by tho Levin-Greatford deviation Ino work was likely to tako some timo it it wero embarked upon, for it would involve the construction of 35 miles of now hack.

A member of the deputation: Tha Palmerston North scheme means the construction of miles of now railway. Mr. Massoy admitted that this was so.' lne reason for the proposed change was the congestion at Palmerston, where the railway facilities would have to ho improved. It was at present one of the worst centres in the. country. If tha deviation was to he made, he did not Know how thoy would manage about Palmerston m tho meantime. Although a vote might be taken for tho work this year, the final decision would not ho made, until ho had had an opportunity of going fully into the matter with tho Minister of Publio Works