AUCKLAND’S NEW ‘STATION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1930, Page 3

AUCKLAND’S NEW ‘STATION

THE OFFICIAL OPENING

ADDRESS BY MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

AUCKLAND, Nov. 24

Auckland’s new railway station, which lias been in use since Sunday week, was officially opened this attciliomi. The siaiion arid new \tnds cost £1,250,000 and the new Westfield- deviation £790,000. Speeches were made by Air M. J. Savage, M.P., the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, the Hon. J. B. Donald, Mr Badclon (Mayor), and others, after which the Minister oi Railways, the Hon W. A. Veitch, unlocked the main door with a gold key. The Minister-of Railways, who was received with 'applause, said lie had heard one speaker sympathising with him and one congratulating him. Aii people had kindness to express, hut not from the same point of view. The problems of tne Railway Department ivci'o difficult, but they were there to do their best under all circumstances. The solution of the problem of the railways might come from co-ordina-tion or from something else, 'l lie son, tion of the problems of finance might com© from the people themselves realising that they owned the "ailways While they valued sympathy and consideration, they would value the support of the people, in the h.ture a, great deal "fiiere. PINE TRANSPORT MACHINE, , Air Veitch congratulated the city of Auckland on having such a fine transport machine in its midst, it would t> a great mistake to build a railway station which did not.show vision tor many years ahead. The people oi Auckland had been good tempered to tolerate such a poor service as they had in the past. As far as the railway station was concerned, it was a

matter for congratulation that a sta tion to meet requirements for many years ahead was now available. The decision was made by tile present Government. While they had* party fights in Parliament and fought for justice, his experience had taught him tin lesson that there were many varied viewpoints of the political .problem in a young country such as New Zealand, but they' had young and earnest men willing to do right by the people. H' paid a tribute to all those who had a hand in providing the beautiful structure they were opening that afternoon. ’They had many men in New Zealand with constructive engineerin' ability and others with artistic ability, but they had' few who could (ombiiu the two. They had had, as far as the station .was concerned, men with both abilities who had brought the seheni to fruition. The work had been done by New Zealanders and almost entirely with New Zealand .. material. Mr Donald bad referred to Auckland being the gateway to New Zealand. The Dominion was hlc-ky in bavin" such a gateway. They had with th/nv to-day, Mr Tiblings,' jyho toolc part in the opening, of the first railway line. He was a Unit with the past..

Referring to himself, Air Veitoh said lie joined the railway service in 1889 cleaning engines, and lie had had an interest in. the Railway Department ever since. Although he had tm-jirtl his mind from honest work to T'arliamentarv work in the interim, he was glad to 'be. associated with the old work. He could also call liimself a link with the past. ‘ POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE The station was probably one of th< host south of the Line. While proud of the past and recognising the wonderful progress the country had made up to now. they must remember that the possibilities of the future were much greater than the achievements of the past. They were in the hollow of a financial depression, but New Zealand had passed through several periods of depression and no doubt they would rise out of this one. Tly; future would be greater than the past. He was confident that the station which appeared at the present time ; to be too large for requirements, would in time cause people'to wonder whether it was too small. The whole district'.'was possible of far greater development than was at present falling place. A little 'adversity would strengthen the character- of the people and they would riso in the future to greater and ever greater things.