The Chronicle LEVIN. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1917. RAILWAY SUBWAY FOR LEVIN.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 February 1917, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1917. RAILWAY SUBWAY FOR LEVIN.

A renewal is being made of Levin's effort.; to induce the railway authorities to build a subway where the railway crosses 'Kiaw;iu road; or, ,if the railway authorities prefer, in such other part of Levin as may be deemed suitable. The general policy of the New Zealand Eailway [Department flavors the subway as against the level crossing, but on the score of expense there is a disinclination to undertake the conversion of level crosslinks into subways wih-ere the level crossings do 'Veil enough." It is solely on tlds ground that the crossing at Kawiu road has -not been converted; such, in effect, was the answer given to a Levin deputation that interviewed the railway authorities some years ago. In the meantime, however, the absolute ne.ed for a subway in these parts has become more and more- apparent, and endeavors are ! being made by Levin Borridi Council to induce the Horowhs lua County Council to guarantee a part of the cost and to join with the trwn body in approaching the Railway (Department with a request tha; the 'Government bear a portion of the expense. If the three parties in (reference combined in equal degrees to give effect to this need of the town and district the cl-ecisioM would be commendable. The townspeople would be benefited by the minimisation of cattle droving through tiie main streets; the settlers of the county would be provided with a safe means of getting their livestock past the railway, and the risk of accident on the railway would be minimised.

NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS,

New Zealand is "not" increasing the quantity of her exports. This fact is regrettable, but doubtless the withdrawal of so many of our young

men from productive f ohannels—to fulfil their duty to the empire—is the cause of this. There is a widespread impression, based on 'the greatly-increased monetary value of our exports during the last two years •—that by some unexplained means there ha.s been an increase jin the quantity produced; but such a belief is not founded in fact. In the latest issue of Government Statistics there are gven the figures for the year ended December 31st;, 1917, and in a note on these the Government statistician remarks"lt is an outstanding feature that, although the increases noticeable in the value of exports for the last three years, have been to some extent maintained, this increase is due almost entirely to the higher prices ruliiig. In all except two (cheese and phormium fibre) of the main items quoted below the actual quantity shows la desereiase oil the figure for the previous year, and in the case of cheese and phormium fibre the value lias increased by an amount which more than corresponds to the increased quantity exported."