LEVIN-GREATFORD RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1503, 29 January 1916, Page 3

LEVIN-GREATFORD RAILWAY.

CONFERENCE CONVENED,

A special meeting of the, Foxton Borough Council was held last nighty for the purpose of discussing matters in reference to the Commission set up in connection with the proposed Levin-Greatford railway. There were present: The. Mayor (Mr A. Fraser) and Crs. Bryant, Stevenscfn, Henderson, Thompson, Whibley and Freeman. An apology for absence was received from Cr McColl. The Mayor briefly explained the reason the meeting had been convened and read a letter from Mr W. H. Field M.P., suggesting that a meeting of delegates from the various local bodies in the district be convened to discuss matters in connection with the proposed railway, which meeting he would be pleased to attend. The Mayor said that the previous day he saw Mr Hennessy, chairman of the Foxton Harbour Board, and he had told him that the Harbour Board was not taking any action as far as the proposed railway was concerned, but were devoting their whole attention to the wharf acquisition question. The Board bad not asked to have the railway question included. Mr Fraser said that he thought the meeting should pass a resolution asking for a conference in order that the representatives of the various local bodies could get together and arrange details in connection with the evidence to be submitted to the Commission. He moved that this Council recommends a conference of local bodies to discuss who shall appear and give evidence before the Commission set up to consider the proposed transfer of Foxton wharf to the Foxton Harbour Board and also the proposed Levin to Greatford or Marton railway, dealing more especially with the latter. That the Mayor and Cr Coley be appointed delegates to the conference and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Mayors of Levin, Marton, Taihape, the Chairmen of the Horowhenua, Manawatu and Rangitikei County Councils and the Chairmen of the Rongotea and Bulls Town Boards, suggesting Foxton as the place and Friday, February sth, at 2 p.m. as the time of such conference. Copies also to be sent to Messrs K. Newman, W. H. Field, W. T. Jennings and R. W. Smith M’s.P. Cr Henderson seconded the motion. He said that in 1910 the Government agreed to sell the wharf at a price to be fixed by arbitration and now they were setting up a Commission to consider the advisability of the Railway Department passing over the wharf to the Board and if so on what terms. It appeared to him that the Government was shuffling and would continue to shuffle. The Mayor said that the setting up of the Commission was due to the efforts of Mr Field. He found it was impossible to get the question settled by Arbitration and had then asked for a Commission.

Cr Thompson thought it would be advisable to invite the merchants doing business with the district to be represented at the proposed conference. Cr Whibley said that it was a great pity that the whart question and the proposed railway should be mixed up. He did not know who was responsible for this —the member for the district, Minister for Railways or who —but in any case it was a great mistake. It would have been far better to have the wharf question settled first. If the railway were put through it would be the means ot greatly increasing the value of the wharf and this was a question the Commission would also consider in fixing the value. No doubt there would be strong opposition from Palmerston and it was essential that the strongest men in the district should be brought before the Commission to combat the evidence from that quarter. The Mayor, in replying, said that as far as the merchants were concerned they could be depended upon to look after their own interests and if it were to their advantage to bring evidence before the Commission no doubt it would be done. He contended that if the railways were managed by business men instead of by political influence this proposed railway would have been constructed years ago, if only for the saving in wear and tear of rolling stock that would be effected. As to who was responsible for mixing up the two questions he could state positively that Mr Herries, Minister for Railways, was responsible. He absolutely refused to set up the Commission to deal with the wharf question alone. The motion was carried.