TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1069, 27 February 1913, Page 3

TRAMWAY EXTENSION.

The Feilding Chamber of Com merce on Monday night dealt with the question of the Sandon tram md through connection to the Main Trunk railway at Marton. Mr John Cobbe presided. The president introduced Mr M. A. Eliott, president of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce, who apologised tor the absence of co-delegates, Messrs R. McNah, J. A. Nash and J. M. Johnston. Mr M. A. Elliott said the matter of objecting to the through connection had the hearty support ot Palmerston and he was sure the Feilding Chamber would support it too. The question had come to a head with the visit of the Minister for Railways to Marton. There was a scheme in contemplation to get the tramway taken over. There was more than appeared on the surface. What was visible was only the thin end of the wedge to some bigger scheme. If the were granted. Levin would be joined up to Foxton and the tramway would extend to Greatford or Marton; and Palmerston and Feilding would be side-tracked. The interests of Palmerston and Feilding were identical. In a discussion lasting an hour the Feilding speakers showed that they did not object to an extension of the tramline from Foxton to Greatford or Marton, but would object to any linking up with the railway, which would mean eventually causing Feilding and Palmerston to be side-tracked. Mr Cobbe was appointed a delegate to attend the conference at Palmerston to discuss the question. Mr R. McKenzie, representing the Rongotea Chamber of Commerce, said he had been asked to come to the meeting in view ot the reported deputation Irom Palmerston. It seemed incredible to him that a number of business men should try to prevent the settlers of the Rangitikei from getting communication they needed.

Mr A, H. Atkinson asked what grounds the Palmerston Chamber had for thinking the Manawatu county matter of extension of the tram was the thin end or the wedge as stated? Was there anything definite to go on ? Mr Elliott said the Government could prevent the County Council from connecting with the Government railway, though they could not prevent the extension of the tram. It had been freely stated the linking up of the railway line was the ultimate end of the policy. Mr Bramwell said he had read that the Minister of Railways had recently promised to spend a considerable sum of money in improving the Palmerston railway station. Would the Government do that if it was intended to make the loop line ? Mr Elliott did not think the Government would spend a large sum as proposed if it was intended to '.urn the line. But it might come later. The question was, when was the proper time to step in ? It would be no good waiting till the work of linking up had commenced. Mr Tolley asked if Mr Elliott had ever heard of any, other deviation? Some twenty years ago he lived in the backblocks of Apiti, when it was the dream of the settlers to have a deviation from Palmerston to Feilding through Apiti and Rangiwahia to Mangaweka, and thus cut off the big bend in which Marton was included. Mr Elliott said the matter had been discussed at the Palmerston Chamber, which body agreed that the Feilding-to-Kimbolton extension was one of the most urgent in the country. It would serve a very rich district. „Mr Cobbe said he did not think any Government would undertake such a large work as the loop line in the present state of the money market. It would not come for many years. Mr Elliott said perhaps not, but if a strong representation was made now, it might stop any intention of making the loop line from Levin to Marton.

Mr Guthrie asked if the Palmerston Chamber was in sympathy With the Foxton port ? Mr Elliott said yes, certainly. Mr Guthrie asked if, then, the Palmerston Chamber could be understood to be willing to assist the development of the port ?—• Yes. ' . , . The Palmerston Chamber then, continued Mr Guthrie, could be understood not to. oppose the extension of the tram to Marton, which would help to develop the port, but would oppose any extension from Foxton to Levin. Mr Elliott said that was so. Mr Elliott then thanked the Chamber for its courtesy to him, and withdrew. .

When the'matter again came up for discussion, Mr Atkinson proposed that the Chamber was unable to join the Palmerston Chamber in the matter. He thought it was utterly impossible for the Chamber to take up the ■ attitude of stopping the Rangitikei people from getting a legitimate outlet for their produce because ot a fear thgt something else might follow, Mr Klliot bad evidently no tangible ground whatever to go S. Andrew seconded the motion. Mr Tolley thought the matter had to be very carefully considered. The people along the tram route no doubt looked at the matter from the point of view of their pockets. They may have had visions of express trains flashing by, and increasing the value of their land. Palmerston people no doubt also looked at the matter as it affected

their business interests. Sandon was 50 miles Irom Feilding by rail and 10 by road. He had been on a deputation to the Minister (Mr J. A. Millar) to ask for the extension of the tram line from Sanlon to Feilding, and he understood the Minister to say no extension could be allowed which would come into competition with the Government railways. If the extension asked for was now to be made, it was to Feilding’s interest to have it made to Greatford, instead of Marton, as that would be a nearer route from Sandon to Feilding. He thought the looping of the main line was a very remote possibility. It any deviation was made, the voice of the inland settlers would have to be heard, and the} would ask for a deviation from Feilding through Kjmbolton and Apiti to Mangaweka.

Mr G. J. Harford opposed the motion. The Minister had said the Government could unt stop the Council to make the extension in the county. When the Minister was iu the district, no secret was made of the idea that the tram line could be used eventually as the railway route. But he did not think there was much danger of the deviation, but they should be prepared to oppose any suggestion of it. The Rangitikei people were not asking for any Government subsidy, but their deputation had stated they wanted the extension so that the Government could take over the line later on. Mr R, B. McKenzie said tUat was not so. The settlers wanted the extension so that they could get their goods to the market in the cheapest way. They had said they would not oppose the Government taking over the tramline if it was desired to do so, though they did not want to part with it. Mr Harford proposed that a representative be sent to the conference. There could be no harm in getting further information. Cr Ongley seconded the amendment. There were two aspects to the question. Feilding should not object to the settlers getting an extension of the tram, but they should take steps to prevent Feilding being side-tracked. A protest against Feilding being side-tracked would never be out of place. A delegate to the conference would not mean supporting Palmerston in every way. Partner information might be obtainable at the conference.

Mr Bramwell supported the amendment. No one wished to prevent the Rangitikei settlers getting their outlet, but Feilding should protest against any proposal to be side-tracked. They should certainly get all the information possible. Their delegate should understand he was not to oppose the extension of the line asked for, but would oppose the extension to Levin. Mr McKenzie said anything benefiting the Manawatu district must benefit Palmerston and Feilding. The people of Feilding had always been exceedingly friendly with the country people. He pointed out there were 80,000 \ acres in the Lower Rangitikei area capable of being sub-divided, and this, if cut up, would place over 300 additional families on the land. The good this settlement would do to the towns would more than compensate for any harm done by the deviation of the line from Levin to Greatford. If Palmerston took up the unreasonable attitude of opposing the extension, he tor one,would cut from Palmerston altogether. Feilding and Marton people were friendly to them, and would get their support. He would go as far as to sign a petition to stop the mail from Palmerston to Sandon- The Feilding mail service was much better for them. He emphasised the fact that all the country people were asking for was the extension to Greatford or Marton. He had been asked by the Levin people if he would support the extension to Levin, and he had told them he was not in support of that proposal. He showed the necessity for connection with the Government railway line in order to get the benefit of the shorter route. Mr Cobbe said the Feilding Chamber was in entire sympathy with the extension of the tram to Greatford, but objected to the sidetracking of Feilding by making the railway through there. Mr McKenzie said it would make little difference to Feilding it the main line went through the Manawatu county. But the scheme was so remote that it was not worth discussing, Mr Guthrie said there was no doubt the extension from Levin to Greatford was originally connected with, the scheme, but lately it had been dropped by the Manawatu County Council. To make the extension to Greatford, there was no doubt it was necessary to get an Order -in - Council. Other schemes were being talked about in regard to railway matters. One was the duplication of the line from Wellington to Palmerston, another was a line through from somewhere near Otaki to the Hutt, thus getting a level route and doing away with the Paekakariki and other hills. The Levin people were keeping alive to these questions, and Feilding and Palmerston should be also awake. He did not think the Government ever entertained a solitary thought of taking over the Sandon tram and making the loop line. Mr Penney supported the amendment, saying he saw no harm in getting iurther information.

Mr Atkinson said they had all the information, and he saw no good in sending a representative to the meeting—it was only postponing their declaration on the matter of the extension from Sandou to Greatfoid. The meeting was unanimous in the opinion

that the Manawatu Council should be permitted to make the extension.

Mr Cobbe said any representative sent to the conference would not have his nan.is tied. He would be permute : to voi.e as he thought fit iu the iiite:.;sts of Feeding. The amendment was then put, and carried by seven votes to three.

Messrs Bramwell and Tolley proposed that the President act as delegate. —Carried.