FOXTON-SANDON TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 896, 24 September 1910, Page 3

FOXTON-SANDON TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE. Hansard No. 22 is to hand and contains a full report of the discussion in the House in reference to the petition for the extension of the Foxton ■ Sandou tram from Pukenui to Greatford. As the matter is of importance to this district we will publish it in full. Mr Craigie (Timaru) brought up the report of the Public Petitions M to Z Committee on the petition of the Bull’s Town Board and other local bodies, praying for permission to connect the Hima-taugi-Pukeuui Tramway with the Government railway at Greatford or Mar ton, to the effect that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. He moved, That the report do lie on the table, and be referred to the Government for favourable consideration

Mr Newman (Manawatu) moved as an amendment, That the report aud evidence be printed. And in order to speak on the subject he desired to have possession of the evidence, so that he might quote from it. The tramway which was the subject of this petition was one of considerable importance. The petition had been presented from the local bodies in the Manawatu and Kangitikei districts, and extending up the Main Trunk line as far as Taihape. The local bodies who petitioned were the Manawatu County Council, the Rangitikei County Council, the Bull’s Town Board, the Martou Borough Council, the Taihape Borough Council, the Rougotea Town Board, the Foxton Borough Council, and the Mangavveka Town Board. The people in those districts were all interested in this tram. The petition dealt with a tramway, or what might be described as a light railway, because upon the greater portion of it qolb rails had been laid. The line was built some twenty years ago by the Manawatu County Council, and it ran from Pukenui to Himataugi, where it connected with the Government railway system on the Palmerston-Foxtou Section. The tramway terminus at the north eud was at Pukenui, close to the Rangitikei River, opposite the town of Bull’s. The petitioners desired leave to connect the northern end with the Government system either at Greatford or at Martou, The petitioners asked that the local bodies might be allowed to construct this line at their own cost; aud if they were permitted to connect with the rest of the railway system they would submit proposals to the ratepayers to enable them to do so, and they would give the Government the option of purchase of the line. The object of the petition was simply to get the right to connect with the Government railway system at the northern eud. The Government had refused the request of the petition on, he thought, two occasions on the ground that the tramway would enter into competition with the rest of the Government railway system. The Minister stated in his evidence that he would oppose it, because, Foxton being the nearest port, goods from the Main Trunk line would be diverted to the tramway aud be shipped at Foxton, instead of being brought by rail to Wellington. Goods passing through Marton now for this district had to go round by Palmerston aud Himataugi, a distance of forty-four miles, and then on to Pukenui, another seventeen miles—or sixty-one miles, instead of a distance of five or six miles if the connection were permitted. It was difficult for any one unacquainted with the system under which our railways were managed to understand the wisdom or equity of such an argument. If it were a sound one, he would suggest tcj the Minister the advisability of no longer taking goods to Masterton over the Rimutaka, but of taking them round by Palmerston aud Woodville instead, thus securing increased freight to the railways. The tramway was in capital order, and was a very valuable property. It ran through a district that was second to none in the Dominion for the quality of its soil; and the district was densely settled in small farms — mainly dairy farms. The line was practically flat from end to end. He did not think there were many farms of greater than a few hundred acres in proximity to the railway. The settlers imported stock for fattening purposes aud also timber, there being no timber now in the district. In order to show that the traffic was increasing, he wished to quote the following figures : During the last five years merchandise increased from 730 tons to 1,454 tons; timber, from 153,000 ft. to S3S,oooft.; wool, from 1,915 bales to 2,563 bales; flax, from 45 trucks to 156 trucks ; aud revenue increased from ,£2,459 in 1906 to ,£3,334 in 1910. All the income from the tramway had gone back into it, and was spent on new rails and sleepers, and improving formation. This year the County Council had imported au engine at a cost of £,1,220. The Government had opposed the connection solely on the ground that if it were opened it would divert the railway traffic to Foxton that now went to Wellington by rail. He would quote part of the evidence given by the Minister of Railways before the Committee, to show reasons for the objection. The evidence was as follows: — Hon. Mr Millar ; This matter of the Saudon Railway has been going on for some years. Lately there has been an agitation for the line, commencing with the creation of the Foxton Harbour Board and

their endeavour to get the Government to find them funds to open up Foxton Harbour. Webr.veno objection to working by agreement. They have got a large portion of our rolling-stock ; and by agreement we gave them the runningright over a portion of our line. Now, we do not object to that at all; but the Government object in toto to a county that is already well served with railways and roads making a tramway that is going to come into direct competition with the railways ; and that is their object, and I prove it. Supposing this tramway were got up to Greatford, as they ask, they would tap the whole trade from Martou into Foxton, because if it only came on to their tram-line at Greatford they would take the whole thing down to Foxton and ship. We in New Zealand, as in other countries, have been forced by a railway policy to make a specially low rate to compete with the water. The Manawatu County ratepayers are only a portion of the owners of railway-lines of New Zealand, and have no more right to get special favours because they are in a wealthy county than any other place. Let me take the first line of argument they are going on. They can do nothing until they get the port of Foxtou properly opened up. We have seen that when the Manawatu Company had their line they had a specially low rate to Foxton ; but when the Government took over the Manawatu line it made one classified rate for the whole railway. If they think that the Railway Department is going to sit down and allow their tram-line to take away the whole of the trade from Wellington to Palmerston, or very nearly so, they will very soon find a rate made on the railways to shut the port of Foxton up. Now I want to show you some figures. Take class A, merchandise. The timber that Mr McKenzie talks about is done. I do not think there is a stick of timber in the district now. Timber has to go in only lor building and fencing purposes ; and it is chiefly whitepine. Take merchandise : From Foxton to Feildiug, via Palmerston North, it is £i 3s 4d by train; by the tramway route to Grealtord it would be £1 '/s 6d. Greatford is forly-niue miles from boxtou, and the cost is £1 ns rod; it would be iSs 8d by tramway. Foxton to Martou is fifty-two miles, and the cost is £1 12s 6d ; by the tramway route £1 os 3d. Now, you see the object of the whole concern. They would take the whole of their stock by rail through from our main line, because the distance is so much shorter, and that is why tlm Government opposed the thing, They are well served with railways now. There is another branch line to Palmerston North. We have no money to spend on the connection. There are places in the country where the people have hundreds of miles to go. Mr Newman; They are not asking you to pay money. Hon. Mr Millar: We are not asking the settlers to pay a penny more than any other settlers. You want the Government to make a railway to make Foxtou Harbour. Without Foxton Harbour they cannot create trade, and the two are not going to be separated as far as the Government is concerned. Mr Newman: That is not so. Hon. Mr Millar : The Government is not going to grant a right to any person to construct a private railway. As lar as the Railway Department is concerned we will not give you the connection, and I am speaking now on behalf of the Government. You have heard already the reply of the Prime Minister. We have to conserve the rights of the people of the whole Dominion.

Mr Nosworthy: Would it pay the Government to take over the tram-line entirely if they could make a good bargain with the County Council ? Hon. Mr Millar: No. We would lose the whole of our haulage from Wellington. The stuff would go through Foxton, because the ships can compete more cheaply than the railways, and they would only have to pick up the stuff at Foxton. If the Railway Department took the whole line over it would only have to relay it from beginning to end. The present line is all right for light traffic, but the only thine we would have would be the route. Mr Nosworthy : Supposing they gave a guarantee that they would not develop the port of Foxton ? Hon. Mr Millar : We could not do it then. The tramway would be valueless then ; it would never do for our through traffic at all. Mr Pearce: You said that if this tramway were connected the Marton produce would go to Foxton. Does not a lot of that traffic go to Foxton now ? Hon. Mr Millar: Ido not believe any produce goes from Marton to Foxton. Mr Pearce: Another question I should like to ask you, as Minister of Railways and as a member of the Government, is—it has been shown that the timber trade goes down the Main Trunk, and that the produce of the district, which consists chiefly of oats and grassseed, goes on to the Main Trunk --Do you think, as a member of the Government, it is right to force these settlers to send their traffic round another sixty miles ? Hon. Mr Millar : Why can they not send it to Greatford ? They have eight miles cartage to Greatford, where the Main Trunk line is there to pick it up now. Mr Pearce: If you have to handle timber two or three times it is a very expensive matter, Hon. Mr Millar : I say that, as a private member and as a member of the Government, I will oppose in toto the granting of any private

rights for railway-construction. ] Mr Newman : We are not ask- 1 ing for that. Hon Mr Millar ; You have been asking us to be allowed to put the revenue ot the Crown into your own pockets. Mr Pearce ; 838,000 ft of timber, without including that for fencing, in one year is a big thing. Hon. Mr Millar ; Granting it is, do you think the State is going to sacrifice the people as a whole lor the sake of that 838,000 ft of timber ? Grass-seed is a very light thing to cart. There are men carting it miles. There is no better district lor carting than yours. Mr R. B. McKenzie: Other districts have not expended the money we have. Hon. Mr Millar: We do not object to the line going on as it has been. Mr R. B. McKenzie : The trams in Wellington compete against the Government railway. Hon. Mr Millar : We have taken trains off Te Aro now. The boroughs ot Hutt and Petone, containing about twelve thousand people —much larger than yours— l have tried to get a Bill through Parliament for a tramway, but they have been refused. Supposing the Government proposed to put a line alongside your tramway | how quiet you would sit. Mr R. B. McKenzie : We would be very thankful. Hon. Mr Millar: Not if you had to run your own at the same time. Mr R. B. McKenzie : We are entitled to serve the interests of the district, and desire to see it progress ; and the way to do this is by the best and shortest possible means of carriage. Hon. Mr Millar: We intend to look after the interests of the country as a whole. Mr Pearce: You do not generally refuse private sidings. Hon. Mr Millar : Private sidings are quite a different thing. This is a line of railway, probably twenty miles long at least. Mr Pearce: And the whole reason for the Railway Department refusing is not because you think it would not benefit the district, but because you think it would injure traffic on the Government Hue ? Hon. Mr Millar: Yes; as a whole, Mr Nosworthy: How about an arrangement so that outgoings must go on to the Government line, and not to Foxton ? Hon. Mr Millar: They could not, and would not, bind themselves to that. As long as it is cheaper to take by steamer they do not care if the railways do not take a package. Mr Nosworthy; Do you find rolling-stock free ? Hon. Mr Millar; We give them trucks. Mr Nosworthy: Are the rates the same as on the Government line ? Hon. Mr Millar: We do not interfere with the local bodies’ rates. We do not get anything except what we charge for their trucks.

Mr Forbes: You look upon this line, Mr Millar, as an opposition line? Hon. Mr Millar: Exactly, a line for the benefit of a particular section of the people. Mr Duncan : Do you think the tramway has been an advantage to the settlers of the district through which it passes ? Hon. Mr Millar: To the settlers, but not to the Railway Department, at least not materially, because the stuff is sent down to Foxtou and shipped. Mr Duncan: Does not the Government desire to give settlers as cheap a transit as possible ? Hon. Mr Millar; Not at the sacrifice of the people as a whole. If you approved of that you would be giving a particular advantage to the people of the district. At Oamaru we ran the railway in competition with the Harbour Board, and we will do the same thing to Foxton to-morrow if we have to. Mr Nosworihy: Will Government competition absolutely kill Foxton ? Hon. Mr Millar ; Yes, as far as the port of Foxton is concerned. They begged and prayed of us to take our coal from Foxton.

Mr Duncan : I was just wondering, Mr Millar, if you had ever looked upon the taking of the tramway as a business proposition. It would help to develop the country, and would be a feeder for the main line. Hon. Mr Millar: Have you been through portions of that country ? Mr Duncan ; Yes. Hon. Mr Millar; Can you settle it much more than it is settled at the present time f Mr Duncan; It is hard to say, Do you not think it would be a good business proposition for the Government to consider the taking of the line over, and connect it with a view to extending it to Levin ? Hon. Mr Millar; It would be of no use. They are making a loss on the tramway at the present time, and they are charging Government rates, Mr Duncan: And it is not desirable to allow the connection, for the reason that it would divert traffic from the main line ? Hon. Mr Millar ; If the tramway were only going to take goods for those people on to the main line there would be no objection at all. (To be continued in our next issue.)