LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2148, 10 July 1920, Page 3

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER,

PROMISE OF INVESTIGATION,

A deputation waited on the Prime Minister on Thursday morning respecting the Levin-Marton deviation of the railway line. Sir James Wilson said the request had been revived because there was a proposal by the Railway Department to spend a considerable money in altering and shifting Palmerston North station, in order to relievo congestion. The deputation thought the scheme for the straightening of the line should he considered before the Department’s scheme was entered upon. The Palmerston North scheme would be expensive and non-revenue producing. The Levin to Mart on idea would shorten the line hgr 11! or 17 miles.

Mr .1. Chrystall (Mayor of Foxton) said lliat 1(1 miles of railways on the Main Trunk lino would be saved. He pointed out (lie economic {idvantages of the proposal. He also said the deviation would give easier access to a highly-producing district, and one advantage to Wellington would be greater possibilities in regard to milk supply. Mr W. 11. Field, M.P. (Otaki), supported the statement of Sir James Wilson that the districts concerned had heard that a sum of money was to be spent at Palmerston, which would he as great as would be repaired for the LevinGreat ford deviation, and in view of the greater advantages of the latter to the Dominion they felt justified in urging its consideration by the Government. The distance on the main trunk line would be reduced from 50 to 3!) or -10 miles. Mr W. C. Kensington (Marlon) said that in a very little time there must be duplication of the line to Palmerston North, or .along the proposed deviation, and when that came to be done the saving in distance would be very considerable. He cuntended that Palmerston North would not lose anything from the deviation, because the through trains only stopped there a few minutes. Mr H. W. Smith, M.P. (W'aimarino), representing the districts north of Marlon, expressed strong approval of the proposal. It wonjd give readier aeeess to their districts, and would undoubtedly assist the more rapid transport of stock and goods, by relieving congestion in (lie yards al Palmerston North. The people in (he (listriels he represented would seriously object to the expenditure at Palmerston North if this work were left untouched. Mr W. S. Glenn, M.P. (Kaugitikei), supported these statements. PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. NOT MUCH CHANCE THIS SESSION. Mi' Massey said he was glad the deputation was not asking lor anything definite, hut merely for investigation. The ease would have to he carefully investigated, and Avould he, hut it was doubtful if lie could go into it this session. He had no idea a saving of Hi or 17 miles would la; effected by the deviation. The Teal trouble was the congestion at Palmerston North, which, was one of the [wo most congested stations in New Zealand. The other was Lyttelton. The matter would not he definitely settled until the Minister for Public Works and himself had gone over the tine. He was sure the line would pay.