LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2189, 14 October 1920, Page 3

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

DISCUSSION BY or; Of A COI’NTY corxciL. (From the Manawatn Tinier.) Homo time ayo Mu; Aliiuiuvatu Connly Council convened ;i conference at which certain mom hoes of Parliament and reiu-osenla.tive.s ol various local bodies discussed a proposal- regarding the Levin to Marlon railway deviation. The outcome ot tlie deliberations was an appeal lo the Government lo adopt this .scheme, urging that the matter was of national importance. Should this be carried out, Palmerston and Podding would lie greatly aifoeled. but local bodies in this district have not viewed the action ot the conference as being at all serious, and consider that it is highly improbable that the Government will adopt such a scheme. The nne.stion was raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Oroua County Council (Podding) by Cr O. Me Elroy, who said that the local bodies in this quarter had made no movement in opposition to the entreaties of the Manawatn and other bodies. Something should lie done. •'There is some smoke, but 1 don’t, know it this is going to lie any lire,” lie said. He understood that the Government had purchased *l2 acres ot land at Marton and were also carrying out survey work, but as to whether lids bore any significance, he. was unable to say. However, they could nob afford to ignore it altogether and some protest. should he lodged against such a deviation. ' T Me Elroy pointed out, that the Main Trunk route would be shortened by only 3 7 miles by a cut from Levin to Marlon, while the cost Tor such a scheme would probably Vie £200,1)00. To spend such an amount, on a railway line to mu practically pnreliel with the present one was. in Ins opinion, an absolute absurdity. (I was not going lo benefit the taxpayers but, in reality, only a sew tonrisls who would be saved lialf-au-honr or so on Mic Journey. He thought the Chambers of Commerce would be tiie best bodies' to move firs!.

Cr ,i, Morrison said tliat I hoy need not worry themselves as the agitators did not have a hone of Retting- the scheme through. Wanganui had pooh-poohed tire idea,, considering that there was 100 much money wanted elsewhere for the Government to agree. Jt was hardly likely they would side-step Palmerston and Feilding. Cr \V. Green how: “Then why is the Government. proceeding- to spend money on surveying.” Cr Morrison: “It was authorised some time ago. To my mind Mr Massev will come up and view the proposed route, express sympathy with the agitators, and say that there is no money with which to do it.” Cr McElroy said that there would be some, sense in spending money on establishing railways to places where there wore no roads. He pointed out that in the Manawatu County he had property which would be considerably enhanced if the railway went into the. comity, but nevertheless he would not support it. “I know there has been a lot of wire pulling - going on among the large property holders.” Cr Morrison; “That district is well served by the tramway, and a lot of that country is only rabbit, country.” There is not the slightest fear, but wc/ don’t want to be caught napping. Wo would not be justified in taking any action; the Chambers of Commerce in Palmerston North and Feilding and the Farmers’ Union should get going first.” Cr McElroy: "I notice Sir James Wilson says it is a national question.” . Cr Morrison: “There is no national question about it; it is a ‘rabbit’ question.” (Laughter.) “I don’t know if lie thinks that if he gets the railway there, he will get the HydroElectricity Boards as well.” Cr; Vincent; "It has all cropped up in order to stop Palmerston North from having a new station.” It was agreed to leave the question to Chambers of Commerce and Farmers’ Union to take action.