ADVANCE SOUTH WESTLAND
RAILWAY MILEAGE RATES. On Tuesday night last quite an influential meeting of members of the Farmers’ Union and other settler? took place at the Waiho Glacier Hotel to discuss improved transport facilities. The Secretary m opening the subject stated that the people of Murchison even before the * earthquake had their goods carried ifrom Nelson to a small station called Gowan by train, thence by motor lorry to Murchison at railway mileage rates. That means to say that the Government to assist in opening up the country before the main trunk railway joins up with the West Coast section at Inangahua junction, are paying the difference between the contract price on the carriage of goods fiom Gowan to Murchison and wlmt the railway mileage rates would be if the train went through to Murchison.
Some years ago' a conference was held at Ross and Messrs Stuart and Chapman asked Sir Wm. Fraser if he intended extending the railway further south and he answered in the negative. The result was that Stuart and Chapman built their own railway line quite strong enough for their own heavy loads but when an application was made for the transport of goods on this private line the Railway Department refused to allow their rolling stock to be used.
A vote of £5,000 was passed for the extension of the railway across the Vlikonui river and this sum lias never been expended. In recent years heavy traffic fees and petrol tax have been imposed on motor traffic. We now have a Transport Board with the Hon. W. A. Veitch as its first minister.
Hip meeting passed a resolution that the Government he requested through the member lor the district, Mr Jas. O’Brien, to allow the same concessions to the backbloeks settlers in South Westland as are at present enjoyed by the people of Murchison. 'flie latter (forms a precedent and as it may he years before the Main Trunk is extended into South Westland, these improved facilities will open up the country and pave the way for the railway which one day must come. South Westland fanners pay the same rates and taxes as other men and where motor transport are feeders to the railway the Transport Board should be able to arrange with the Railway Department to carry goods at railway mileage rates,
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Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1929, Page 5
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390ADVANCE SOUTH WESTLAND Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1929, Page 5
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