The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, July 31, 1909. THE COMING MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 31 July 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, July 31, 1909. THE COMING MINISTERIAL VISIT.

Tiik visit of a member of Cabinet (Hon. Dr. Findlay), to Foxton, for the purpose of officially opening the new post office, affords a lifting opportunity to bring certain matters of importance to the town and district under his notice, and, it possible, to enlist his assistance towards their consummation. The meeting on Thursday night decided to entertain the Act-ing-Postmaster-General at a banquet in the evening, at which the Hon. Mr Millar (Minister for Railways and Marine), is also specially invited to be present. The latter gentleman is the one member in the Ministry who, to a great extent, controls for the time being, the destiny of the local port, also he could, were he so disposed, recommend the construction of the important connecting link of the Main Trunk railway between Devin and Marton. We have sufficient faith in the Hon. Mr Millar to believe that he will seriously consider this question at the proper time. We hope he can make it convenient to attend with his colleague because the promoters of the Foxton Harbour Board, and through them, the townspeople, are indebted to Mr Millar for his advice, when as Minister for Marine he said to a local deputation: “Why don't you form a Harbour Board ?” Had he not forced this question upon the promoters and inspired them with hope, the Harbour Board might still have been in the air. Seeing that Mr Millar has, to a certain extent, been responsible for the establishment of our Harbour Board, it naturally follows that he will take more than passing interest in its welfare. At present the port’s principal revenue, i.e., the wharfages, is mopped up to swell the revenue of the working railways, hence the Board’s helplessness to carryout necessary improvements, in order to safeguard, increase, and encourage local shipping. As Minister for Railways, Mr Millar can adjust the present iniquitous state ol affairs. Then there is the necessity for altering the local railway time-table in order to allow local passengers to catch the'afternoon mail train Palmerston to Wellington, at Dongburn. At present the local 3.10 p.m. train to Palmerston arrives at Dongburn at 4.24 —exactly 35 minutes after the mail train has left. There is, however, a slow train which leaves Dongburn at 5.28 p.m. Now that the Government has acquired the Manawatu line there is no need to fear the Foxton service as a feeder to a private concern, and the timetable should be so amended as to meet the requirements of the travelling public. It will be seen how important a visit from the Minister of Railways and Marine would be, and we urge the Reception Committee to use their best endeavours to induce him to attend. We have no desire to overshadow the important visit of the Acting-Postmaster-General but it is more satisfactory to approach the Minister in charge of the matters above referred to in person rather than through a colleague. It Mr Millar does not come, then the only alternative will be to inflict his colleague with the requests. The Acting-Postmaster-General’s attention will be drawn to the necessity for cheaper telephonic communication between Foxton and the Empire City by completing the metallic circuit from Foxton to I,evin. It is probable that the ceremony will lake place on Friday next, and we can assure the Ministers that Foxton will accord them a right royal welcome.