LEVIN-MARTON DEVIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2203, 16 November 1920, Page 2

LEVIN-MARTON DEVIATION.

WE are reliably informed that 509 business people in Palmerston X. are opposed to the Palmerston railway deviation. Further, that a vigilance association has been formed in Palmerstyn Xorth to oppose the proposal and to assist in preference the national scheme of linking up the Main Trunk lino between Alar ton and Levin. For some reason our Palmerston contemporaries have not made mention of those facts. They have not even stated that the proposed site of the new station is very subject to floods, and that no estimate of the cost of preventing same has been taken info account. Mention has, however, been made of the imaginary sandy wastes and Hooded areas through which the iron-horse would have to pass along the Marton-Levin route. Is it necessary to repeat that the land along the proposed MartonLevin route is classified as some of the most fertile country in the Dominion? This fact will he borne in upon the Premier and Minister for Public Works when they visit the

locality. That portion subject to Hoods presents less difficulties than the Tokomarn area along the Manawatn Hue. That interested land, owneiv. are responsible for (lie agi-v. tation of linking up the Main Trunk 1 between Marten and Levin is without foundation in fact. The point is that the Marton-Levin link will serve the double, national and local, purpose of shortening the journey between Auckland and Wellington', and relieve the congestion at Palmerston. In face of these facts it; would he profligate to sanction the Palmerston deviation. A meeting of local body delegates and Parliamentarians will he held at Sandon on Friday next to further discuss the Levin-Mild on deviation in view of (he approaching visit of the Premier and Ministerfor Public Works.