REMOVING A SIDING.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1917, Page 1

REMOVING A SIDING.

WEST COAST GRIEVANCE. The National Efficiency Commissioner for Canterbury (Mi'. J. A. Irostick), informed a Lyttelton Times reporter last week that tlie Railway Department, had refused the request of settlers, at Maitai (West Coast) to he allowed to retain the use of a railway siding which had been at tlxjir disposal for the-last twenty years.

The position in regard to this siding is that it- was orginall.v laid down to carry ballast for railway purposes from a pit in the vicinity, hut during the last two decades it has been placed at the convenience of the settlers, who say it saves them four miles of ha'ub age over had roads.- The Railway Department apparently wants the rails on the siding for other purposes, hut the settlers say that there are plenty oi lighter rails lying idle at Raupo. winch could replace those- taken up. The Greymoutli Borough Council, the Grey County Council and the local branch of the Farmers’ Union have made urgent representations regarding the necessity of retaining the siding, and they have been, hacked up hy the. advisory committee of the National Efficiency Board The Rnilwn.y Department, however, is adamant. It states that as the siding is no longer useful for hauling ballast, for which purpose ii. was laid down, it must- he removed.