LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY DEVIATION.
The Premier and Minister for Public. Works, accompanied by the Minister for Lands will make a tour of inspection of the proposed route to link up the Main Trunk line between Levin and Marlon or Greatford, to-morrow. The party will be entertained at luncheon at Rougotea, and will hear the views of those advocating this national work at Mart on or Greatford. The Ministerial party will then proceed to Palmerston and make an inspection of the proposed Palmerston deviation, and will be subsequently entertained at a dinner.
Representatives from Horowhenna, Foxton, Manawatu and Rangitikei will accompany the Ministerial party along the proposed route of the Main Trunk link.
Says last night’s Palmerston Standard: — “In vlcav of the fact that the Le-vin-Greatford- deviation supporters have made capital out of the fact that the Vigilance Association is opposing the local scheme, a Standard representative asked Mr C. N. Clausen, Avho is secretary of the association, to express an opinion in regard to that matter. Mr Clausen Avas brief and to the point. “I am absolutely opposed to the LcvinGrealford deviation,” he said, adding: “I am loyal to Palmerston North, and do not Avarit to sec it side-tracked as ilie Main Trunk route.” Air Clausen also stated that neither he nor any delegates from the association avouUl he going to Marton on "Wednesday to deputalionise tiic Premier along with the LevinGreatford deviation adherents.”
A correspondent writes as follows to the Levin Chronicle; — “It will be remembered that some years ago the Government were strongly in favour of this proposed route. Why? Because they could see that if would he a paying concern. Every detail had been gone into, and Sir Joseph Ward decidedly told a deputation that was waiting on him at the time, in connection with affairs at Shannon that this line must go through. He also said that it would save a lot of congestion at Palmerston which eerlainly has been noticed in past years. He also said that the line of route via Great ford would mean the sating of three-quarters of an hour in lime, and one can imagine what, this would mean to commercial men. lourists and the general public. Then there is to be considered the saving in the wear and tear of rolling stock, which would amount to thousands of pounds in the year. Then there is the coal account which would be saved, and I lie saving of expenses of running the trains, which all means a large amount in the year. It (he Minister of Railways has the interest of (he railway and the country at heart, he would give these matters his serious attention before opposing them or the route in question. We are pleased to see our member, Air W. 11. Field, and others, working for this line, and we (rust that their labours will be rewarded by success. Once this line is put through we feel Hurl it ' will relievo Palmerston to .-mdi an extent that it might not necessitate "* the spending of the huge sum spoken of, which might he used to help to construct this line." LEVI N - GREAT FORD DEVIATION. HARBOUR BOARD OVERLOOKED FOXTON BOARD MEMBER'S VIEWS. Any misapprehension which might have existed as to the Foxton Harbour Board’s attitude iu regard to the agitations for the Levin-Great-ford deviation was cleared up at the meeting of that body yesterday. The treasurer (Mr A. Bock), who brought up the matter, said it was a question whether the Board was md just as much interested in the deviation as the Foxton Borough Council, and he noticed that the Board had not been asked to join the deputation to Mr Massey on the subject. That did not matter much, suid Mr Boek ironically, as the Premier had to go out of office iu any case, according to a slashing resolution passed by the Foxton Borough Council the other day. (Laughter.) It was obvious that Foxton was not going to keep Palmerston back. Ilis notion was that if the Foxton Borough Council and the Manawalu County Council would concentrate on getting the tram line through from Grealford, They would be doing some good, and probably, they would eventually get a light line from Foxton to Levin. It was quite on the cards that if the deviation were made the train would not stop at Foxton, and probably not at Levin. What earthly good was it going to do for Foxton in that case? —Air J. A. Nash, ALP.: “I think we should Hot take the thing seriously at all. It is only a dream of theirs about the Levin-Greatford railway. I am certain that everybody in this room will be dead before tjiat line is constructed.”— The Chairman (Mr J. Linklater): “I have always been of that opinion.” itMr Nash: “They have no chance of doing anything at the present time. There is no petition or anything else before the Government," and the Government cannot do it on thei r own account.” —Air Bock pointed it out as an interesting fact that no sooner had the Government employed a staff of experts on any particular piece of work than members of local bodies 'opposed to it immediately bedtime expert engineers with a critical turn of mind. These people had been very rough
on the General Manager of Railways (Mr McVilly). He thought dial Mr McVilly would, by ravel'll! handling, be abl6 to relieve the congestion on the line, and that it would pay him to bring coal through the port. lie might be over-enthusiastie about !he .port, but that was bis opinion.—Mr Nash: ‘‘No, 1 think you are quite right!"—Mr Bock did mu think they eould-aeeuse Mr MaVilly or his officers of any ulterior motive in wanting the railway station moved, from the present site at Palmerston North to Rangitikei Street. He went on to say that he thought it showed a lack of courtesy on the part'of the agitators that they did not ask the ILfrbour Board and other local bodies just as much interested as they themselves were, to take part in the deputation. He was sorry to say that the agitation had started in Foxon. —It was eventually decided that the chairman and the treasurer should represent the Board on the Ministerial visit of inspection which takes place tomorrow.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2209, 30 November 1920, Page 3
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1,053LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY DEVIATION. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2209, 30 November 1920, Page 3
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