TRAMWAY EXTENSION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1066, 20 February 1913, Page 2

TRAMWAY EXTENSION

The Palmerston Chamber or Commerce, in respect to the proposed extension ot the FoxtonSandon tramway, is alarmed. In the words of a certain classical writer, "they smell a rat, they see it floating in the air, they'll nip it in the bud !” At a recent meeting the Chamber passed the following resolution, which it is proposed to send to local bodies in the districts of Palmerston, Feilding, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa : "The proposal that the Railway Department shall allow a connection to be made by the Sandon tramline with the Government line at Marton has now assumed definite shape. The Minister of Railways has just been taken over the Sandon tramline route, and a very large and influential deputation has waited on him at Marlon. The Minister has intimated that he will refer the request to Cabinet and has asked for further information. It has been freely stated that this connection is only a step towards the Government taking over the tramline and ultimately extending it from Foxton to Levin. It is hardly necessary to point out that if the Levin-Marton line eventuates it will be used as part of the Main Trunk Line from Auckland to Wellington, and would therefore most adversely affect the welfare and prospects of Palmerston North and Feilding, and to a large extent the communication between the whole of Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa with the Main Trunk Line and the West Coast. It would mean that passengers to and from the east side of the range would have to take a connecting train from Palmerston North to Marton or Levin in order to connect with the Main Trunk. The matter is of such importance that it is proposed to form a strong and representative deputation to wait on the Minister ot Railways with a view of preventing any movement detrimental to the districts affected. You are requested to appoint a delegate to attend a meeting to be held in Palmerston North on Monday, March 10th, at 2.30 p.m., when matters will be discussed, and a course of action determined on. Other matters relating to railways in your district can be brought up.”

Palmerston’s objection to the extension of the tramway to Marton is the fear that the Government will take the line over and construct the southern link between Foxton and Levin, thus making it the route of the Main Trunk line between Auckland and Wellington. There is no doubt that this fear will be realised sooner or later, for it is ridiculous to suppose that any Government will allow the present expensive deviation to continue longer than necessary. The objective of railway administration is to shorten the distance between two given points, thereby lessening the cost of haulage and economising the time of the travelling public and facilitating the despatch of mails, etc. The statement that the linking up of the Main Trunk line would “most adversely affect the welfare ofi Palmerston and Feilding, and to a large extent the whole of the Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa” will require something more convincing than an empty expression of opinion. Up to the present we have not heard one reasonable argument against the link by Palmerston objectors. It is nonsense to say that the Unk would be detrimental to the East Coast. They would be in precisely the same position as at present. Why thousands of people, anxious to reach their journey’s end at tlhe north and south of the line, should be compelled to pay for an unnecessary detour —in order to catch a passing glimpse of Palmerston's squares—is beyond reason. The linking up of the line is a matter of national importance, and the present Minister has, time and again, stated that railway administration must be considered from a national rather than a local standpoint. The Palmerston Chamber’s fears are groundless and parochial.