Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1904. The Levin-Greatford Railway.

Manawatu Herald, 5 July 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1904. The Levin-Greatford Railway.

The representatives of the various local bodies' interested in the cop? struction of the proposed railway from Levin .through Foxton to Greatford, who met at Foxton oja the 27th June, did hot express their views on the subject as fully as might have been expected. Indeed the gentlemen who took the greatest part in expressing the views of the districts interested in the proposed -extension, was not a member of any local body, and with the exception of the Mayor of Poxtoh, the representatives from the various districts had comparatively little to say on the sibject, apparently leaving it to Mr McKenzie and the Mayor to detail all the circumstances of the .case, and to suggest what should be done. This is not altogether surprising, for there is really very little to say about the desirability of the line beyond the statement that it is desirable for the districts through which it would pass, and would benefit them to an enormous extent. There can be no question about that. But a great deal will yet have to be said and done before the construction of

the line is an accomplished fact, and the majority of the delegates at Monday’s meeting did not bring forward any suggestions as to ways and means by which this object was to be attained, The course of action

suggested by Mr McKenzie, and ifc certainly seems to be the most satisfactory one, is that the Government should be approached with a view to getting them to take over the tram-

line now run by the Manawatu County Council, which they could do at small cost. If the Government considered it to its advantage to do this, the connection with Levin and Greatford would soon follow, as it is to be presumed that the Government would have this in view in acquiring the line. However, as the promoters of the representative meeting in Foxton fully recognised, the main difficulty will lie in getting the Government to take the matter up at all. A great many considerations will be taken into account before anything is done by it. His Worship, the Mayor, pointed out that the first question which will naturally be asked is, what Will the proposed line coat? Councillors King and Coley pointed out the initial cost in the matter of bridged Two bridges Will be necessary, one over the Manawatu at Wirokino, and the other over the Rangitikei at Bulls, and for this an expenditure, it is estimated, of £82,000 Will be required. As agatnst this Ml' McKenzie pointed out that in all other respects the construction of the line would cost very little. A large part is already formed, and the whole passes through level country. I doubt,” Said Mr McKenzie, “ if there is another 39 miles anywhere in the colony which could be constructed at less cost.” There would be about 20 miles of new construction, and the rest, which is already formed, merely requires to oe relaid with heavier rails and sleepers. However, it seems that there will be greater obstacles in the way of getting a line through than coat of construction, The Government will not look at the matter merely from the point of view of the districts immediately interested. • As the Mayor pointed out the fact that the object of getting the Government to acquire the line is' to have it connected with the Manawatu Company’s line, will be a serious obstacle, but opinion seems to be divided as to whether the chief objections will come from the company itself or the Government. Either one or the other will consider it is injured by the connection. Mr McKenzie said that both could not be injured, but we do not quite see on what grounds Mr McKenzie can allege that if the one will suffer the other will not. However this may be, it seems very probable that both will consider themselves injured. A good deal of traffic from the North instead of going on to Palmerston and down the Wairarapa line will be diverted by the shorter route on to the Manawatu line. On the other hand a good deal of traffic North of Levin would be diverted from the Company’s line on to the Government line, and the carrying trade between Foxton and Levin would be acquired by the Government, without increasing the traffic on the Manawatu Line, for the Company already has it as far as Levin. The fact that there is a good deal of traffic between these two centres is shown in the contemplated running of a line of coaches for both passenger and goods traffic. The actual result therefore would probably be that both the Government and the Company would be injured in some ways and benefited in others, and we think the benefit in both cases will outweigh the injury. In addition to this the increased facilities for locomotion and travelling gives a corresponding increase in the traffic through the better opportunities for developing the resources of the district. The Government, however, will probably recognise that the new connection cannot benefit their already existing line from Wellington, and if it produces any. effect on that line at all, it will most likely be an injurious one. At Jhe same time, it- should be remembered that the Government is not in the natures of a’-private company having interests independently of the people. It is representative of the people, and what is for the benefit of the country should be its .first concern. Whether'this aspect of the matter will have much weight remains to be seen,'but we do not think it would be altogether ignored. However the Manawatu Railway Company and the Government are not the only two bodies which are likely to oppose the scheme. The Mayor pointed out at Monday’s meeting that the construction of the proposed line will help to relieve the traffic at Palmerston North, which has now attained very considerable dimensions. Whatever view the Government may take of this, Palmerston itself is not likely to consider it an advantage. The construction of the line would have the effect sooner or later of removing Palmerston from the central route to Auckland, and although we believe this will come in time, that flourishing centre is not likely to concur in its advent sooner than can be helped. The Manawatu Standard * says that the construction of the railway would cut off a large amount of trade from Palmerston, and it should therefore be carefully watched,

and our contemporary suggests that a special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce should be convened for the purpose of considering it. Wha< course will be taken By that body, and what effect it will have on the scheme, will be watched with close interest b; the promoters. More than 20 years ago Palmerston succeeded in diverting the Manawatu Line from Foxton. The extent to which it has benefited by its success is obvious, and it is natural to suppose it will put forward a good deal of effort to retain the fruits of its success. It is a mistake, however, to suppose that all the business of a district can be connected with one centre. • As the country progresses, new centres of industry must spring up and increase, not necessarily at the expense of those already existing; If this Were not so, stagnation would soon take tllh place of progress, the effects of which would probably be felt by the larger centres firSt. Another* objection which the Government is likely to offer to the scheme, which in fact has already been offered, is that nothing can be done until the central rohte Id Auckland is completed, and that any increased expenditure on new lines will retard the progress of what is admittedly of greater importance to the country as a whole. The Mayor* made some very practical Remarks at Monday’s meeting as to the proper way to approach the Government in the matter. There was, he said, no use in petitioning. Nothing could be done without actually waiting: Upon the - Government by means of and enlisting the sympathies of !the various members for the districts concerned, and getting them to urge the matter on the Government. Moreover it was, he. Said, no use to take “no ” for an answer. The only course that could result in success was to persist in applying to the Government until we obtained what we wanted. These views were .evidently taken into consideration in framing the resolutions passed l‘y the meeting, though we think that if steps had been taken to have a deputation to wait on the minister, better results might be expected. However we have great faith in the influence of perseverence tempered with prudence and foresight, and we trust that the promoters of this important scheme will show themselves to be men of the proper mettle, who will never let it rest until success has crowned their efforts.