MARTON-LEVIN RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2167, 24 August 1920, Page 3

MARTON-LEVIN RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Commenting on the above railway deviation, (he Patea Press says: “The projected deviation is no new idea, it having been before tin* public for many years ]>ast, bat, unfortunately, the amount of traffic and other eireumsianecs did not warrant the work being jiroeeeded

wilh. .As far buck as LSiHi the laic Surveyor-Gen era I, Mr •). S. AlcKerroAV, in a report referred to the line 1 in the following words; —‘When the through line to Auckland is completed,'' he. said, “it may be worth while to consider fhe question of constructing the direct .line from Levin to Great ford." Now that the main line to Auckland has been completed it might he as well if the authorities Avere to take .Mr McKerrmv’s advice and consider the f]uestiou of the proposed deviation. The lime is a singularly opportune one for tile matter to. he considered, ;c- the authorities have in contemplation a deviation to remove the congestion of traffic that at present exists with regal'd to the station at Palmerston North. The cost of this particular deviation, it is contended, will be as much as the proposed Le-vin-Marl on deviation, and will serve no more useful'-purpose then that of relieving Palmerston North, of its congested traffic, whereas the Levin-Marl on line would accomplish (Ids purpose, and he the .means of benefiting ail travellers using the New Plymouth-Weliingtou line as well. Prom a Dominion point of view the proposed deviation advocated by the Marlon-Levin Railway League should he taken in hand aI, once, oven if it cost double the amount. As a mailer of fact, the Levin deviation should cost considerably less than at first sight appears, as some live and a-half miles of the proposed line between Pox ton and Himitangi are already formed. The Palmerston North deviation, whilst costing probably as much, it 'not more, than the other Avhen the new railway station is taken into consideration, would not shorten the .journey belAvecn New Plymouth and Wellington at ail. As a matter of, fact, the Levin-Alarton deviation must come in the future, and it might just as well be put in hand npw as at a later date, and thus save the money that rvill otherwise be sp'ent in the less necessary work at Palmerston North. . . . For

the sake of the public who have to I ravel between Noav Plymouth and Wellington, avc hope the efforts of the League will be crowned Avitli success, and the proposed MartonLcviu line be an accomplished fact before very long.’’