WANTED—A RAILWAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1925, Page 1

WANTED—A RAILWAY.

J'Oli SOETII WESTLAND. A conference called hy the Farmi’i'a' I’iiion 'orgauisation wa> held at the office of Stuarl anil Chapman l.td. Ross. yesterday aiternoon. to go into the question of using the tramway of Stuart and Chapman Ltd. with Uorernmeiit ruffing stock fur the transport of the sol tiers’ goods and stock. There were present: .Messrs Clayton (voted to t.he chair), Carter and Jellie (representing the Farmers' f'nion Executive). .Messrs Xorthcrol't. Chinn. Eeeleslield. .McBride (representing Vataroa and Harihari branches of the Farmers’ I'nion). Messrs Kent. Weilstead and Watson (representing the Railway Department)', Alessrs Jeffries and Searle (representing the Westland County Council), and .Messrs Butler and Chapman (representing Stuart and Chapman Ltd.)

The Chairman said the meeting had been convened by the Farmers’ I’nion to see what could he done to meet the wishes of the Souih Westland farmers. The linn of Stuart and Chapman Ltd lmd been ready always to meet tlm i'nion as far as possible. He hoped the Railway Department would do what il could to meet the settlers. 11l ihe south the pastures needed renewing if the export of but-

ter and cheese was to be renewed, and more fertilisers at a i hcup.T rate for transport requited 1o be taken into the (listiet. There Here l(H).OlK) in res of land in occupation, and as much more in hush and swamp to he brought into use- as laeilitics acre alfnrded. The trade of South Westland would grow into quite a big thing in its way. Hood stock calm" out of the district, lie hoped the Government. would help in the limiter, as had been done elsewhere. The Southern settlers had a case for consideration. and he thought a general discussion would help towards a solution. .Mr Kent stated he had been instructed bv tlie Railways Department [» attend. The position, as before Iho Railway Board was outlined. I Inline had been inspected in UAL and it was not up to ihe .standard of maintenance and much below the requirements ol the Department.. An inspection this year revealed some improvement. lull much remained to lie done. The estimated cost of I lie work required by the Department was £7,000 in addition to which annual maintenance was set clown at £OOO. for wttges and exclusion ol material. The question was: Did the traffic warrant that outlay. At pre-cm tlie risk of accident, to the Goveruinenl lolling stock was too great U lie overlooked by the Department. He was present, at an interview in Wellington lately, when Air .ffliries met tlte Minister and the Baird. As an outcome of those negotiation- the Board resolved to offer l hem I il. and i.. waggons at linn at A, o each ; or L.B. waggons lor good- at Hreymotitli lei £!(? each. Tho-e waggons couid be li.Ncd up for -beep and oilier stock. The trucks could be run alongside the Hoveniment line, and the sheep etc. i hanged from one truck to the oilier liy a conneeling gangway. Mr Clayton asked if the Company could not shunt on to ihe (.overunieiit line and unload at the yards.Mi Watson -aid Flint arrangement ,|,,| no seem to present any difficulty Mr Butler remarked the firm were negotiating with the Hoveniment for l lit- purchase of an F. locomotive which would facilitate shunting. Air Kelli explained that sheep and pigs, could he changed from truck m truck by a portable gangway. .Mi Well-t ead. connected with tlm commercial side ol the railways, said

ii wa- the poliry ol lie* Department lo go out and meet their elietils and talk over their difficulties. The

great i<U-a was to make the railways pay, as there wit- no question ol iedueing fares or Ireiglits fill the hue paid. lie had looked into loetil traffic lor Iht' past five years, Imt ii wotihl ho essential to bring the tramway tip to the Government standard. 1 ln-y could not take any risk with their rolling' Stock. The safety of the line must he the lir.sl consideration. "u the fra Hie figures he had compiled. Ihe prc-cnl tolnnie of traiiie front south ol |;oss would not pay lor a large expenditure on improving; the tramway, h would not pay the Department to undertake the work. In 1 there were ll:S7 entile railed from Boss and 083 ill ltfjd. In Hf-’f* there were 78;;) sheep and pig's railed from lioss ami (gf)ojg i n prj.-). Taking: the lffl’o traiiie. it meant about 200 trucks a \e.t'. which over the len;.;th of the tramway (10 miles) would mean a freight <n about £2lO. Ml- Koelesliehl said it would he niisleadiug to take only stuck into consideration. Hundreds of toils ol goods were wanted in South Westland, the set tiers were isolated, and thev were paving; with a vengeance lor »o'ght. \ little help was what they re<,Hired. With heller facilities there would be more traflie. The Height ofloi.ng would lie trebled.

Mr '.Mcßride understood they "ere there to ask Messrs Stuart and t lu-.p-man if they would sell their tramway to the Government at a lair The South wanted the ru.ilway. I' l ’ „outh was tt. district with many natural resources. The valleys were capable of carrying; twenty times urn present: papulation. W ith Height -until at L'o per ton it was a haniship for families. They were without har-Ikii-s. and they should have a railway. The County Conned members had promised to arrange with Stuart and Chapman Ltd- to run trucks on the line. The south was forging ahead despite the disabilities. lo» years ;,go there was one family oil Waturoa Flat with a household school, 10-day there were .TO scholars at the public school and two teachers. Tin- tourist resorts of the south should not l*c overlooked, nor the other natural resources of the district. He suggested a motion for the saw,.tilling Jinn t-0 sell the line, and the Government t>

own and work it. Mr Wellstead remarked that the I,'iyim' of the line had not cropped U p' before. The matter could he referred to the Bail way Board, but the purchase was a policy question tor the Government to determine. Mr Northern!'t said negotiations lnni Ixvn in progress for some time without anv result. He thought the figures quoted did not do justice to the south traffic. Something required to be done to assist the district. Making as an experienced farmer he said their pastures required renewing, bevtilisers would be required, and that meant more trade for the 1!u "atThere were 44.000 acres at Wataroa. The land would all bo farmed it fertilisers could be brought in cheaply. Mr Wellstead pointed out the line only went ten miles of the fifty to Wataroa.

Ai r Non bereft, understood the destination of the line was Lake Jantho. Afr JJutler said the lino might reach Lake lani.ho. It was contemplated, but there, was no chance at present owing to the obstruction of a. Govornment. Department which blocked the firm reaching its own property. As a matter of fact the linn had offered to sell their property to the Hoveniment and was prepared to take Government bonds in payment. The linn had been so harnessed and was so disgusted t Inn the offer had been made. It now appeared that there was no greater crime than to indulge in a large industrial enterprise. He believed there was no man in trade who would not he glad to he out of it. Air Chapman gave an assurance that the firm had no objection to carrying the settlers’ goods as had been arranged with the local body. Air Eeeleslield enquired wlmt recommendation the Department had to make in the matter. Air Weilstead replied there was the proposal for ihe jiurelia.se ol the waggons 10 ime mi the lino.

Mr Kent referred to a suggested load diversion via Bold Head. Mr Clay ion slated il was a railway the South We-ilaud people warned.

Mr Weilstead remarked that with the lailh expressed in the future ui the district perhaps the local body and farmers could finance ihe matter. Air Carter referred to the fuel that the settlers wanted the railway. Air Chinn gave the history of the matter during his term ot office as a member of the County Council. The Council gave the linn a Ijelter tenure of Bold Head load line so as to secure the concession regarding the carriage of goods. II would he a con-

venience now if that promise was given to permit shunting on to the Governmeni line. Seeing tlial tile Hovernmeni would not put ihe Iraniway ill order hi* thought the oiler to purchase rolling stock might he considered. Air Chapman went back to the history of the eoitstiiiet ion of the tramway. pointing out tlm work was no! undertaken till he bud the assurance of the late Sir Will. Fraser that the

Hovei'iiment was not going to eonsi met the railway -until of Russ. Iho lino was constructed purely bn* sawmill purposes. Settlors’ goods wete ,-arried. They were trying to extend the tramway to fantlie. but lor three years had been blocked by a Hovernmeni Department. lb- terminus of their line when it readied la ili lu> w ould be approached by way of Evans road. The next stage, however. would be to Duffer’s Creek. Timber was now being carried for another tirm. and proposals in respect to other mills was being considered also. Mr Allan (a member ol ilio firm referred to) asked if the firm would M ,j| hi, !in. :- If ihe Hoveniment owned lie line there could lie cheaper freights. A lot was being said ot -lock and produce, but timber liaula**'e would lie (he payable commodity. Nothing was said about, limiter. Yet South Westland was a store house of t imliei*. Afr Chapman said il was quite im-pos-ibie te answer the question offhand. All- .tell l ies did not understand the proposal to purchase the line. It had been stated if permission were obtained Government rolling stock would be used on the line. Ii was not expocieil {.lint the examination of the line l,v facials would be so stringent. The County Council had offered io indemnify the Government against injury to the rolling stock. IF gaxo particulars of an interview with the .'.fillister of Railways and the Railway Board a fortnight ago. the outcome of which was an offer to sell trucks for use on the line. The disabilities of the south necessitated *>mo measure of relief. The position was to acquire the line or purchase the rolling sleek. The latter was the most feasible, and if tin* trucks ran .successfully it would be the. thin end of (be wedge to get complete use of ihe trucks. j„ roplv to Afr Carter. Mr Chapman said' the terms lo continue Ihe Hue to Duffer's Creek were such that no one would accept. AH* Butler explained that the tramway was a grant under the Alines’ Act. and it was necessary to get Hie per

mission of the Minister of Mums to (:ir iv the settlers’ goods. That was ,ufter some demur. Mr Keiil gave further part ietilnrs I,s to the trucks olfered for sale, hut Mr Feeleslield said such a compromise was not a crop! able. It would place a burden on the people. Wind was wanted was the railway. Mr Jeffries thought the fount.' Council would ho prepared to consider the matter of the rolling stock if the decision to purchase the line was not favourable. Finallv Mr Northern! t moved Dial on holudf of the Farmers’ fnioti. the Conference recommends the Government to elder into negotiations with Stuart and Chapman Ud with a view to taking over the tramway and extending same. Mr Mcßride who seconded the motion. said that if the Minister came t„ the district they would see him. |[e asked for favourable consideration to the proposal on The part of Stuart mid Chapman IJd. The motion was carried. A suggestion to put forward an alternative proposition was not. taken up, the Wataroa representatives slating they were satisfied with the motion as agreed to. Mr Clayton then expressed thanks to those attending for the time and attention given, and a vote ol thanks to the Chairman for presiding elosefi f,]io Conference at 4.20 o’clock.