RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2207, 25 November 1920, Page 2

RAILWAY DEVIATION.

MEETING AT PALMERSTON. A meeting of Palmerston business men was held on Tuesday to dismiss the Palmerston railway deviation. The following adverse criticism of the Levin-Marlon deviation was made: — The Mayor (Mr Jas. Nash, M.P.) said the protagonists of (he LevinGreat ford scheme had tried to hamper the Palmerston North deviation by having (lie proposals eon-* pled for Parliament’s consideration. Luckily he had been able to thwart lliat move, and to get the Levin-Gre-atford proposal talked out when it came before the House, lie commented on the fact that neither the Hon. D. H. Guthrie nor himself had been asked to give evidence before the committee as to (he needs or aspirations of the distriet. Mr Nash commented on the telegram >ent to all M’s.P. by the Vigilance Association, which declared that 500 business men and property owners in .IVdmerston North opposed the local scheme and were averse to the expense that it would enta.il. He assured the meeting that the Railway Department, with the prospect of a deviation of the Rimulaka line, a double line from "Wellington to Palmerston North, and an alteration to the line at Paekakariki, would never favour the Levin-Great ford scheme.

Mr J. M. Johnston traced on a map the proposed Levin-Great ford route, pointing out that, a bridge four miles in length would he necessary at Whirokino, and that that alonc would cost £500,000. The land on the left-hand side between Foxton and Rongotea was very poor count rv, and did not justify tjie large expenditure of public lands, H it would not support the Sanson “white elephant” tramway, it would certainly not .support a railway. Another immense bridge would be necessary to cross the Rangitikci to get a straight run to Groat ford. The carrying out of that scheme would mean (he side-tracking of the whole of the East Coast for the personal advantage of a few individuals.

Mr E. IT. Crahb then, moved: “That in the opinion of this meeting of members of the Borough Council, Chamber of Commerce and business men of Pnhnerslon North, it is of (he utmost importance that the proposed deviation ot; the railway line from Longlmrn along the northern part of the borough, .as proposed by the Railway Department, should he carried out as early as possible, so as to relievo I lie present congestion at the railway yards, which, under present conditions, arc a danger to the lives of the men engaged in the railway service.”

A committee consisting ot Messrs H. L. Young (convenor), E. H. Crabb, T. R. Hodder, C. F. Spooner, ami the Mayor were appended to arrange lor the entertainment of Messrs Massey, Guthrie 'and Coates at Palmerston North, and it was decided to hold a dinner in the visitor’s honour. "

At Dannevirke on Tuesday, during a deputation to the Minister of Public Work’-', Mr A. Dobson (president of the Chamber of Commeee) asked that nothing should be dime in eonneetion with they suggested Levin-Grealford railway ’deviation until residents in the Hawke’s Bay district had been allowed to express their opinions thereon. The lion. Coates replied that a decision would be arrived at shortly after December Ist, and if it was necessary for the Hawke’s Ray people to be heard lie'would convey their request to the Prime Minister,’