The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, May 18, 1916. WHARF AND RAILWAY MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1552, 18 May 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, May 18, 1916. WHARF AND RAILWAY MATTERS.

Till'] Royal Commission, set up by the Government, will sit at Foxton to-morrow to ascertain ; (1) Whether it is desirable in the public interest that (he Foxton Harbour Hoard should be permitted to purchase from (he Railway Department the railway wharf at Foxton, and if so on what basis the purchase money should be ascertained and what should be the terms and conditions of such purchase. (.!) Whether it is desirable in (he public interest that the Sandon Tramway should be purchased by (In 1 Government and be connected with the Main Trunk railway at Marlon or Great ford as pari of (la* railway system of the Dominion, (4) Whether, in the alternative, it is desirable in the public interest that the County Council having tin* control of the Sandon tramway should lx* permitted to connect that t runway with the Main Trunk railway at Marlon or Great ford. (4) Whether it is desirable in (he public interest that a new line of railway should be constructed by the Government from Levin or some other suitable point on the Main Trunk railway to Foxton. The Commissioners are Sir Robert Stout (Chief .Justice) chairman, and Messrs W. M. Han-, nay (late general manager Welling-ton-Manawatu railway), and Cyrus Williams (engineer to the Lyttelton Harbour Hoard). Mr W. Hollis Cocker (Chief .Justice's associate) is secretary to the- Commission. The Harbour Hoard will be represented by Mr T. S. Weston, and Mr Myers will appear on behalf of the Railway Department, while on the railway matters Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., and with him Mr M. F. Luckie, will appear on behalf of the districts supporting the proposals, and Mr Lines will appear on behalf of the opponents. The local bodies in the district are united in the request that the wharf should be transferred from the Railway Department to the Foxton Harbour Hoard on an equitable basis. They are of one mind that (lie present dual control is detrimental to the port and a barrier to (he development of shipping and commerce. Touching railway matters there is a decided split in the camp. Palmerston and Feilding have harped on the parochial sidetracking string for all it is worth. The linking-up of (he Main Trunk line between Marlon or Greatford and Levin presents no engineering difficulties ; it would shorten the distance between Auckland and Wellington, with all (he attendant advantages in haulage and travel. The construction of the link from all points of view would be advantageous to the State, and would not be a set back to the prosperity of either Palmerston or Feilding. These tacts will be clearly disclosed to the Commission, and we anticipate that the finding will be in favour of recommending the link-ing-up as of national importance. Both sides are well prepared with voluminous evidence. All parlies are agreed that they are fortunate in having (he Chief' Justice as chairman of the ('ommission, I ban whom there is pot a better qua UJied person in the .Dominion to preside over such an important matter, and in this connection the (hanks of all are dye to Mr W. H. Field, M.P., at whose urgent request tlie appointment was made.