RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1511, 17 February 1916, Page 2

RAILWAY DEVIATION.

DISCUSSED BY THE FEILDING CHAMBER OF commerce.

The Feilding Chamber of Commerce is opposed to the proposed deviation of the railway from Levin to Marton or Greatford. Following upon a discussion last night, a motion was agreed to setting out the Chamber’s intentions in regard to the Commission set up by the Government to take evidence on this and other questions.

Members present at the meeting were: —Messrs J. McQueen (voted to the chair), J, G. Cobbe, J. E. Rarltrop, W. F. Bramwell, D. H. Guthrie, M.P., D. Fraser, V. E. Smith, G. Spence, G. Bartholomew, W. H. McMenamin, J, S. Tingey, and G. Fitzpatrick. Mr H. Tolley (president), arriving later, replaced Mr McQueen in the chair.

Mr H. Tolley said the Commission had been set up by the Government to consider matters affecting this district. He thought it was unwise to move in the matter at the present time when people’s minds were upon other things. Strictly speaking, the Chamber had nothing before it, as it had not been notified of the Commission. The matters before the Commission were the purchase by the Foxton Harbour Board of the Foxton wharf, the purchase by the Government of the Sandon tram, the extension by the Manawatu County Council of the tramline to Greatford, and a scheme tor a railway line from Levin to Foxton and on to Marton. The Chamber had previously decided to he)p the Foxton people to secure their just rights in regard to the acquisition of the wharf, provided Feilding’s interests were not adversely affected. It had been decided, also, not to oppose the extension of the tram to Greatford. But it was certain that Feilding would oppose any deviation.of the main line by way of the tram route. If any deviations were possible or desirable in the near future, he thought a much better route would be from Feilding through Apili to Taihape, or somewhere along there. That would serve a large number of settlers who were now far from the line. Mr D, H. Guthrie, M.P., explained that the proposed line from Levin to Foxton was first started by Mr Field, M.P. for Otaki, both Levin and Foxton being in his electorate. He explained the work to be placed before the Commission, saying in his opinion the adding on of the deviation question would cloud the whole Issue, It would have been better for the Foxton people to have confined the issue to the purchase of the wharf by the Foxton Harbour Board from the Government. He had warned the Foxton people that if any proposal were made in the House to build the deviation, it would be so seriously opposed that there would not be a possibility ot it passing. He regretted exceedingly that the subject was being put before the people at the present lime. A better deviation tor shortening the main line would be from Feilding to Utiku. Mr J. G. Cobbe proposed that the President, and Messrs Guthrie aud W. F. Bramwell be a subcommittee to confer with the Palmerston North Chamber and consider what evidence, if any, should be given before the proposed Commission. Mr Cobbe agreed with previous speakers that there was not much chance of the deviation, ” though Feilding should be alive to possibilities.

Mr Bartholomew seconded the proposal, saying a far better deviation would be from Feilding through Apiti to Utiku. The motion was carried, Mr Cobbe’s name being added to the sub-committee. —Feilding Star.