Railway Station

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 6

Railway Station

NEW HASflNGS SUE Time Arrives to Reach Some Finality PUBLIC MEETING A meeting of all interested in IJie constraction of a new railway station in Hastings, and of railway matters generally as affecting tlxe welfaxe and development of the town, is shortly to "be called l>y tlie Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, who is •deflnitely of the opinion that the timw has now coms when some finality should "be reached in this matter, "From time to time I have conf erred with Mr E. Jj. Cullen,, M.P., who in tara has made representations regard* ing & visit to Hastings of the Minister of Bailways, tho Hon. D. G. Sultivan, with & view to discussing tlie matter of a new railway station in Hastings and of railway- matters in general as affecting. this .district," said Mr Maddison. "So far, however, .the Minister has not been able to make any appointment or give an indication of when it miglit be possible for him to make the visit. "I kave further conf erred witk Mr Cullen and he is in agreement, and I kave now decided to call a meeting of all local organisations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Be- i tailers' Assoeiation, with the Hastings Borough Couneil, so that the whole questioa of railway matters can be diseussed," he said. "It will be agreed that this matter is one of the biggest problems that Hastings has to consider. "Wa have to look to the future of Hastings, ' ' ha added. "The town is growdng rapidly and it will be oniy a matter of a few years before Hastings will be catering for a population of J0,000 to 40,000. Motor vehicular traffic has greatly increased here, and already there is congestion and serious interference with traffic at the Heretaunga street and other railway crossings through the shunting operations Of the railways. It is obvious that thp position will be accentnated as thc» years go by, and I feel that the time has now come when some finality can be reached in this and other matters directly affecting the community." 2Sx Maddison said that in the past it had been euggested that the railway lino continue to run through Hastings as it does at present and that & new station be erected just a little north of St. Anbyn street. Another suggestion was that the station be moved to near Frederick street, the railway line being taken ont of Hastings and clear *if the centre of the town. "There have been several such schemes mooted and there is no doubt that the qnestion of allowing the centre of tho town to develop is one that ls well worth consideration, " he said. "If the station were moved to just beyond , St. Anbyn street, as has been proposed, there would be no crossing for ordinary traffic between Frederick and Heretaunga streets, and that would be a very serious matter. "It is desirable that we shonld get together and fnlly investigate the matter and look to the future," he taid. "We should look into the various proposals and see which is the best, and it is my Intention shortly to call a meeting, so that we can get xight on to thls job."