LEVIN-GREATFORD RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2144, 26 June 1920, Page 2

LEVIN-GREATFORD RAILWAY.

SPECIAL MEETING OF LEVIN BOROUGH COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Levin Borough Council was held on Thursday afternoon, in consequence of a telegram received from the Foxlon Borough, Council in vegan! to the Levin-Grealford railway deviation. The Mayor (Mr D. AY. Malheson) presided, and Crs T. Hobson, AA’. Thomson. P. AA’. Goldsmith,-AA’. Ryder, F.’ E. Parker and C. S. Keedwell

were present. The Mayor slated dial he had received die following' telegram from Fox Uni Borough Council, which explained itself: “A, representative meeting' held last night decided to lake netivo measures urging die Government to reconsider the Leviudrealford railway. A conference of local bodies interested is being called al the earliest opportunity. In Iho meantime will you appoint three delegates and get all available support.” Tlie Mayor said no doubt councillors had seen a good deal in the papers lately regarding the. removal of the railway station and \ards from Palmerston North to the north-easi era side of the (own. The mutter would be dealt with in an authorisation Bill early in die coining session of Parliament, and in view of the targe expenditure of public money dial would be involved in such an undertaking, it wa-. considered that the Government should approach -the matter from die national standpoint and construct lhe Levin-Fuxton-Greatford deviation, which would confer a benefit on the whole of the North Island by reducing the (ravelling time on the Auckland-\Veiling!on jour-

ney. The Mayor slated that he was in telephonic communication the previous evening with the Mayor of Eoxfon. The latter gentleman had said that Mr Xewman, M.P., had advised that if anything was to he done a conference should he called early next week. The speaker considered (hat the Levin Borough'Council should support the deviation and be represented at the conference. A. good deal of data bad been collected during the sitting of the former Commission which bad favoured the deviation, and this was no doubt- available. It was estimated then that the deviation would reduce the Main Trunk journey by one hour, whiclrwas an important matter these davs. ,

Cr. Hobson said he was pleased to hear the Mayor’s remarks, and he thought some lime ago that the time was opportune for making a move in this matter. If the travelling times from Auckland to Wellington could he reduced by an hour it would be a great saving to the Dominion, and the deviation would mean the open'ng up of new country. He moved that tin: Council support the proposit ion. The motion was seconded by Cr. Ryder. Cr. Goldsmith said the most important viewpoint was the national one, and not the benefit Levin may receive. It would seem a waste <d a huge sum of money if at any future time (he duplication of the line from Marlon to Wellington were found necessary, vthen it could be done much simpler and cheaper over the deviation from Devin to GrealToi'd. In reply to Cr. Barker, the Mayor said lie had been informed by Mr Chryslall, Mayor of Box ton, that it was the intention to work up interest in the matter of all the local bodies, whose districts would he concerned. Cr. Parker said that was so, blit that would be for the preliminary effort only, as to get national support they must get the interest of members of Parliament from Auckland to the Bluff. The motion was then put and carried. On Mr Goldsmith's motion, the Mayor and Crs. Hobson and Parker were appointed the delegates to the conference. DATE OF COXFEItEXCE. The conference of local bodies and members of Parliament arranged by the Mayor of Fox lon will be held at Sandou on Saturday, July 23rd.