The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1916. LEVIN-10-GREATFORD RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 May 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1916. LEVIN-10-GREATFORD RAILWAY DEVIATION.

ilu.be settlors and residents of t.his district who are of op Imo 11 that tiie deviation of the mam trunk railway is (ii'siiiibit' lJiust needs bestir themselves to ensure for tilt project a chance of speedy success. Tiiere is to be as ttmg this weeli of the Commission set up to enquire into this matter, andi liie ion. Os in opposition to the deviation aro showing gieat activity, jltoiu a report 011 the last meeting of .no i'olia.ngina /County Council we note lliait a resolution was carried without a dissentient voice: "That this council strongly protests against the deviation of the Alain trunk line via L-evm and Greatford. Apart from the in:o - venience that will be caused by i'aimerston -North and I'eilding as well a<- the East Coast being cut off, t"o fact remains that the proposed! district through wlnich tEe deviation would go is well served both by tr (.inline and good roads, and this council is ol opinion that as long as tract® of country in the North tsh o remain undeveloped, and lack communication either by road or rail, such expenditure as is suggested is absolutely mi warranted." Feilding, a town that exists for convenience 01 the district surrounding it, seems imbuedi with *he idea that New Zealand as a whoie exists for the benefit of Feilding, and in pursuit, of this belief it opposes any movement for the general advantage that incidentally may not suit the interests of Feilding. So far as we tan judge the case, Feilding is the leading spirit in the opposition against the deviation proposal. 'Last week the Feilding Chamber of Commerce, in a communication to the Oroua County Council made a request that the council pass a resolution adverse to the proposed Levin-Greatford railway deviation. It was unanimously agreed by the Oroua County Council ''Tint this council enters an emphatic protest against the proposal to deviate the Main Trunk line 'between Levin nd Great,ford, as the council considsrp tlia-t the proposal is a total waste if public finances and against the interests of the community generally.'" j

A further indication of Feflding'a activity in opposing the proposed' Novation was seen at Rangiwahia, wnere a public meeting was held to ooneider the question of making representations to the Royal Commission against -he Levin-Greatford deviation of the trunkling, and in favour of constructing a line horn Feilding to Utiku via Apiti and Raiigwahia. Addressee were livcred by Mr D. H. Guthrie, M.t Mr H. Tolley, president of the Feeding Chamber of Commerce, and Mr Fred Pirani. On the motion of vLr Pearson, seconded: by Mr McKenaie, the following resolution was carried unanimously: ''That this meetatig enter its protest against the proposal to spend public money on a deviation oi the Main Trunk railway between Levin and Greatford, on the ground that the advantages of such a scheme would not be commensurato with the cost, andi suggests that when public money is available for such purpose it o'jJd be more wisely spent, both from the point of view of tlie interests oi the dominion and the localities concerned in opening up the land between Feilding and Utiku, via Apiti and Rangiwahia, by a line of .railway, as ft would «hoi*ten the distance between Feilding and Utiku, and enable the further development of one of the best producing districts of the Dominion."