The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, September 23, 1915. LINKING UP THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1450, 23 September 1915, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, September 23, 1915. LINKING UP THE MAIN TRUNK LINE.

Tint Feilding Star rails against the proposed selling up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the Eoxtou wharf settlement question and the linking up ot the railways. Our contemporary expresses the opinion that the linking up of the line irom Marten “is seemingly only a Sandon to-Greal£ord extern sion ot the Eoxtou -to - Sandon tramway line, which we have urged should be connected up with the Eeilding lailway station.” The Star, alter quoting the scope of the proposed Commission, says :—“The wonder to ns is that Palmerston —which is virtually interested in the movement and would be side tracked if such an impossibility ever came about—has taken no notice of this definite information from Mr Herries. The other day the Manawatu Hrkat.d plainly hinted that Foston was at long last to get :ts heart’s desire, possession of its own whart, out of which it has been cheated by successive Ministries of Railways. Perhaps Palmerston has been lulled to sleep by this promise, the fulfillment oi which will go far towards developing its port. But Palmerston and Feilding should be up and doing something to counteract this move from Marion. It is not enough to say that It is perfectly obvious that the setting up of a Royal Commission is a gross extravagance at a lime when the Government is imposing special war taxation. It is not enough to think that it is just as obvious that the line will not be diverted irom Kevin through the coastal route proposed. It is not enough to just go on thinking that it is a scheme of large landowners who see in such a diversion a sure and certain way of enriching themselves by the unearned increment that; a railway line assures. Our Chamfers of Commerce should bring pressure to bear from other Chambers against the extravagance of the proposal, insist that the Foxton Harbour Board should get its wharf, and let the farmers between Sandon and Greatford, through their local bodies, extend the tramway. But as to the diversion of the main railway—well, that is absurd, even tor a Royal Put-oil Commission to consider. Still, the absurdity should not be taken for granted. Whilst putting in a strong protest, Palmerston and Feilding should both see that they are well represented on any Royal Commission of FMravagance, should the Government go so far as to set up such a body during these stressful times.”