PALMERSTON NORTH DEVIATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 38, 1 March 1937, Page 8

PALMERSTON NORTH DEVIATION

-Own Correspondent.)

Many Factors in Resumption of Raaway Work MINISTER INQUIR1NG

(By Telesrraph—

PALMERSTON N., This Day. Possibilities of the railway deviaticn at Palmerston North, commenced by the Qoates Ministry and stopped by .fche Ward Government, being pushed ahead by the present Labour Government following a visit to the site of the aeviation yesterday by the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The Minister, after surveying the •ite, said that he had not made up his Blind as to whether the work would be proceeded with, or whether the existing faoilities could be altered and improved to suit the department's purpose. He explained that there were many things to be taken into consideration „ and when he had finished explaimng, it was obvious that for him everything , was not plain sailing. Hon. D. G. Sulliran inspected the •ite but on his way had a look at the numerous railway crossings between the station and Temace End. He explained later that these had a bearing •lso on the decision to be arrived at. Then he went on to the Milson ramp where the assistant general-manager oi railways, Mr E. Casey. produced a plan of what had been proposed at the deviation. He explained to the Minister the iay-out of the yards, tracks, shunting faoilities, where the station would he if the work was gone on with, and a dozen and one other points about so large an undertakina. . The Minister reported that the prerious evening he had inspected the present railways yards and realised the need for a reorganisation. He had also appreciated the information from his ofBcers that it would cost tens of thousands of pounds to reorganise these yards and as much of thatj expenditure would be of a temporary nature, it oould be seen that the deviation had much to xecommend itself. However, he had first of all to be satisfied that thei'e was no possibility ' of making a permanent job of rearranging the existing railway yards which would include the closing of Cook street and possible protests from residents of the locality. The Minister also emphasised that it was desirable to keep railway transport as near to the business community as possible. Before he could come to a decision he 'must await the final report of his departmental experts. The Minister added that a city of the •izt of Palmerston North was entitled to a. railway station to serve passenger traffic having all modern conveniences which were sadly lacking at the present station. The same thing apgjied to the goods shed where the commodities of tbe business people were stored from day to day. At a meeting of the combined executives of the railway employees' organisations, Mr Doig was instructed to draft ju plan for the reorganisation of the existing railway yards, the Minister giving the executive an assurance that their ideas would receive every consideration when the final decision was being come to.