Levi -Greatford Railway Route.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3578, 28 September 1905, Page 3

Levi -Greatford Railway Route.

OUR DEPUTATION AT WELLINGTON. The deputation appointed a! the recent meeting of the Railway League waited on the Cotmdl of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on Ttn-s----day last endfcavourmg to secure its co-operation in urging the construetion of railways for the betterment of the Mamnvatu and Rangitikci districts, Mr J. G. Duncan (in the chair), Mr J- Duthic, junr., and Mr A. tie B Brandon represented the council of the Chamber, and the deputation comprised Messrs job Vile, B- McKenzie (Rongotea), B. Gower (Mayor of Foxton) F. W. FrankUm] '(Foxton Borough Ccruneilh F. W. Venn (chairman H'drowbemia County Council), H. C. (so|Vper and Phillips {Levin Chamber of Commerce), and Fraser (vice-climber of the Foxton Chamber of Commerce), Mr McKenzie spoke at length, contending {hat the North Island was not receiving anything like its fair share <3L railways. The idea of waiting on the Chamber suggested itself to them by reading a leader in the "N.Z, Times” on August 18th headed “The Right Railway Policy.” The railway connection mostly urged by them was between Foxton and Levin, only nine miles, but it would reduce the distance from Wellington to Foxton by 34 mues. Reporting on railway matters m 1896, Mr McKenzie, one of the Railway Commissioners, said;—"From Longburn to G.reatford, especially on that part of lino between Feilding and Great,/ord, the grades and curves are seve /fe ; the Foxton to Greattord line cr >u jjg run nearly straight on easy grades.” As regards the two .«s, he said: “ For grades and 'curves that by Foxton would be a very easy line to construct, the country being practically level throughout.” In conclusion, the speaker said the league had already secured the assistance of the Horowhenua and Manawatu County (Councils, the Foxton Borough Council, Rongotea and Bulls Town Boards and the Chambers of Commerce of Levin and Foxton, They were quite prepared to, assist the Chamber in the matters of t,he Main Trunk, the Manawatu acquisition, and the Wellington railway station, in return for their help in this matter,

Mr Vile, M.H R., said he thought the object was worthy of consideration. They wanted to get the permanent line to go through by the route mentioned—a line which would be fifteen miles shorter, and one which would traverse country. Mr Venn, chairman of Horowhenua County, contended that in time the whole of .the traffic from New Plymouth, Napier, and Auckland would have to go down along the Main line, and it they made the line asked for, Leyin-Greatford, that would take the N«6w Plymouth and Auckland traffic. Mr F. W. Franklancl (Foxton) felt satisfied all would have to pull together in the North Island, from the political point of view, to gain their object.

Mr Duncan, replying, said he believed the Chamber was quite in sympathy with the deputation. He questioned whether the time was opportune for pressing the matter on the Government, because they would probably get the reply that the Chamber had already got, viz., that the taking over ot the Manawatn line must stand in abeyance until the Ma'in Trank line was completed, if the Government stuck to that decision the deputation could understand they would give no assistance to such a line as they asked for, because it would add largely to the profits of the Manawatn line. His own opinion was that the question should be fought out at election time, and they should impress upon their candidates the absolute necessity of forcing the hands ot the Government in the matter. There was no other way of doing it. Then there was the money difficulty. If such a large scheme was put on foot it would require heavy borrowing, and he did not know how far the colony would stand that. After quoting facts in connection with other lines asked for, Mr Duncan said he was sure, however, that the adoption of the route pro posed and the acquisition of the Manawatu line would result in a considerable reduction of mileage between New Plymouth and Wellington.