The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, January 27, 1916. ROYAL COMMISSION AND RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1502, 27 January 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, January 27, 1916. ROYAL COMMISSION AND RAILWAYS.

The Mayor has convened a special meeting of the local Borough Council tor to morrow evening, at 7.30 o’clock, to discuss matters re the Levin-Greatford railway. As we have previously pointed out, very little time is allowed local authorities to urge the claims of this national work before the Commission, and we are pleased to know that the local Borough Council are not going to let the grass grow beneath their feet. But what are the other local authorities doing ? So far we have not heard anything from them. Are they waiting for each other or for the Harbour Board to take the initiative ? If the latter, then they may be sadly disappointed, because the Board strenuously objected to railway matters being included in the scope of enquiry, and the Board intends to concentrate on the wharf question alone. It does not follow that the Board is opposed to the connecting up of the Main Trunk line between Marton or Greatford and Levin, or the extension of the Sandon tramway, but it is concerned with its own business, which is of vital importance to the welfare of the port, i.e., the acquisition of the wharf. The Board cannot be blamed for standing aloof on what it considers irrelevant issues. It is for the local bodies from Levin to Taihape and Marton to take up the railway matters and push their case for all it is worth, A conference at a suitable centre should be held at once, and the agitation entered upon with that enthusiasm which its national importance demands, Messrs Field, Newman, Guthrie and Jennings, M’s.P. in the electorates directly concerned, should be in attendance, and if necersary the conference should be followed by public meetings in each centre. But there is no time to lose. Already the opponents of this national work, the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce, are taking steps to oppose the linking-up of the railways, and they intend to do all in their power to “prevent Palmerston being side-tracked.” Are the interests of this vast, fertile and closely-settled district and the national importance of the linking-up of the Main Trunk line to be set aside for the sake of an imaginary block to Palmerston’s prosperity ? Such parochial objection must be crushed once and for all, and the opportunity is afforded by the Royal Commission, We warn the district to be alive to Palmerston’s opposition and to scotch it. Not only must the immediate districts arouse themselves, but every town between Auckland and Wellington should be circularised and their sympathy and support obtained. At present it appears that each local authority is waiting for the other to take the initiative, and if they wait itmch longer they will mjss the bus.'