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LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY DEVIATION.

MINISTERIAL INSPECTION OF THE ROUTE. MINISTERS FAVOURABLY IMPRESSED. The Prime Minister (Mr Massey) and the Minister for Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) accompanied by Mr F. W. AlaeLeap (chief engineer of railways) and MY F. Furkort (en-gineer-in-chief of the Piiblii- Works Department), fulfilled their promise yesterday to inspect the route of the, suggested Levin-Marton connecting link of the Main Trunk line. They arrived at Levin by the New Plymouth express. .Mr W. H. Field, M.P., alsoyame Up with the Ministers, who were met on arrival by the Mayor of Levin (Air D, W. Matheson), the lion. 1). 11. Guthrie, Minister for Lands, Air E. Newman, ALP., a largo number of representatives of the Deviation League from Rongotea, Sanson and other centres along the route, members of; the Levin Borough Council and Chamber of Commerce, Horowhemia County Council, and citizens. The party motored to lift Levin Club, where the visitors were entertained. The Mayor extended a cordial welcome to the Aliuisters, and expressed the hope that as a result of the - clay’s proceedings a favourable conclusion would lie arrived at. Air Alassey returned thanks, qlso expressing appreciation of the welcome of the business people and eiti-

zens of the (own. He said Ihe deviation would not he decided on - right away, but it would take time to fully consider. He was quite certain, however, that if it did come off he would he Prime Minister, and that lie would lie present to open it. (Laughter and applause.) The party was ■ (hen accommodated in a Heel of wailing cars, and all were shortly speeding rapidly to Foxton, Mr Massey's car al the head setting the pace. The weather, except for a keen westerly wind, was line, and afforded the parly an opportunity of seeing the country at its best. On turning a sharp gravelled corner on the Whirokino road nearby the soldier settlement, one .of thet ars, containing Messrs A. K. Drew and Hickford, clerk and engineer to the Manawalu County Council, overturned, and threw (he occupants to the roadside. Except for one or two minor abrasions and a slinking up, neither of Ihe occnpanls were seriously injured. It appears that on turning the corner one of Ihe lyres blew out, causing a lock and an overturn. The car was too damaged to continue, and Messrs Drew iind Hickford continued the journey in one of Hie other cars. ARRIVAL AT FOXTON. Upon Ihe-parly’s arrival at Poxton, they were met hy the Mayor and Councillors and a large gathering of the public, in front of the po-y office, i\f i 1 1.45. The Mayor (Mr “John Chry.-dal!) extended a welcome to the Prune .Minister, and said Unit although there might he differences of political opinion, on this occasion they were all “true blue," He made a humorous allusion lo the fear of the Palmerston public being run over hy (rains in iheir locality, and said I lie connecting link would remove this danger. They all appreciated the legislative work of the Government, and lie hoped that Mr Massey would he long spared lo con limit* his good work on behalf of flic country. The Mayor then called for three cheers for the Prime Minister, which were lustily given. AH Massey, in'acknowledging the welcomV, was again accorded a hearty reception. He said he was accompanied hy two responsible Ministers, and departmental engineers. He had to admit Ilia! he knew very link* about the required work, nnd it would he out of place for him to express an opinion until he had inspected both proposals. Alter the inspection had been. made, and Ihe mailer gone carefully into, whatever was required to lie done would lie accomplished in the interests of Ihe country as a whole. He hoped they would remain “(rue blue” to their country and .Empire, and if I hey did this everything would come out alright. The last session had been a long and strenuous one. This avus m>l Ids first visit lo Foxton, hut he was pleased to see that Ids welcome was just as hearty on this occasion. Calls were made for a speech the Hon. Air Coates, hut he refused to he drawn. Cheers were then given for the Ministry and ihe party again boarded I In* cars. The Atayor and Crs. Geo. Coley, Brvant. At. IT. \\ alker, Me Murray, and Air Hornhlow (representing the Chamber of Commerce) joined the, parly. The cars stopped for a short time in front of the school, where the scholars and teaching staff were lined up to cheer the Premier. A number of little girls presented the Alin-’ isterial party with buttonholes, which were smilingly acknowledged, and the innovation was much appreciated. ON TO KOXGOTEA. The party then (ravelled at a speed of thirty miles an ' hour along the. comparatively good . county roads to the Kongotea district, and the alleged sandy wastes were conspicuous by their absence. Instead, the Ministers gazed upon miles of tine farm lands and comfortable homes. A furn was made at the Glen Oroua road, and this fertile dairy laud was inspected en route. Passing through Glen Oroua, "the party was taken to an eminence east of Rongotea, whence u bird’s-eye view of the country could be obtained for miles.

The Prime Minister wns greatly impressed with ISk' view. The buildings at Rongotea' were bedecked with lilies, and I lie School idiildrou wore assembled in front of ihe Town Hall, where they greeted the Prime Minister, at about 1 p.m. Mr Mns--ey addressed the children, and paid a fine compliment to their parents* He urged them to be diligent in their .-.lndies, and to craniate, the good works oi' their parents. Further (dicers were given, 'and stilt more when the Premier said he had obtained for*them a holiday for the rest of the dav.

The parly wore entertained at' luncheon provided by the lady members of the Rongotea Horticultural Society, and presided over by Mr Hunt, who tendered a welcome to (he party on behalf of Rongotea. Air 'Massey suitably replied, and paid a. tribute to tin* fine country through which lie had passed, which he said should be served by a railway. He hoped they would lie successful in this connection, and that he would have the honour of opening it. After luncheon the Premier opened (Tie Show in the presence of a crowded a-ltondaneo. The party drove off for Great ford amidst a salvo of cheers. The residents of Bulls had made arrangements to give a welcome to the parly on passing through, but lor some reason no stoppage was made. A RRIVAL AT GREATFORD. Upon arrival at the Great ford railway station tlie Premier was met by the Marion contingent. Owing to the lack of space in Hie railway station to accommodate those present, all adjourned to the railway goods shed, where the Prime .Minister, from a bale of hemp, listened to the speeeiies. Mr B. P. Lethbridge, chairman of 1 lie Rangilikei County Council, led ■ i lt with the argument that the proposed deviation would cut IT miles from the present main trunk route, so saving much expense and shortening the long journey from Wellington to Alarton. Air W. E. Kensington. 1.5.0., Mayor or Alarton, submitted eight type-written reasons why the proposed line should bo placed on the list of railway lines to be constructed at on early dale. He explained that they should Inna 1 liked to have welcomed Hie f three Aliuisters to Marlon, which would have been a red-letter day in the history id the town. Tiny,points given expressed the Atartoii point of view as to why the line should beacons!reeled. Al I lie same time they did not wish to hold bad: relieving I lie congest ion at Palmerston North.

Mi' Glenn, M.P. for Rangitikci, asked that the points given should he duly considered. He compared ihe estimated cos! of the Palmcrs|on deviation, which had been calculaled at .*.'500,000 |<> .DiOO.OOO, (o I lie scheme for believing (lie eoiigcs{ion Here as pul forward hy Mr Gilev,' al I.oOJIOO (o .f 0.0.000. Ho :skcd Iha I the question should he looked at from a nalional rather Ilian it parochial point of view, and put if to the Premier I hat an independent Commission should he set up to go into,the matter. Mr Field, M.P.. laid claim to having always supported the deviation, and 'deprecated. the spending oft CiOO.OOO on a purely local concern such as the Palmerston North deviation. He also recommended Mr Hiley's scheme for Palmerston N., and scouted the idea that Palmerston X. and Feilding would he sidetracked hy the Levin-Grcatford proposition. He also regretted the action of the Government in 131)3 in refusing the rights to a private company, who could have put the railv,av through for J2l f> O, DD() al that lime. He refuted statements made in Palmerston X. as to the length of bridges required, and the nature' of the land through which the deviation would pass, and claimed the Commission which had reported against the deviation was not fully informed. He suggested the establishment, of cards at Terrace Pnd to relieve Gic congestion of Hawke’s Bay traffic at Palmerston North. Mr R. W. Smith, M.P. lor Waimarino, explained he had no coni ncctioii with either the Palmerston North League or the Levin-Great-ford League, hut wanted ihe latter put through, as lie favoured a national rather than a. local scheme. He also advocated the setting up of an independent Commission, The other speakers were Messrs Chrysiall (Mayor of Foxton), Mr Monk (chairman of the Horowhenna County Council). Mr J. Walker (Bulls), Mr Ilornhlow (Poston), Mr Malhe-on (Alayor of Levin), land Mr Kd. Newman. M.P., reports of which are crowded out of tins issue.

AH Massey, after thanking them for their welcome and the I rip, congratulated them on the way they had stated their case. He was glad to notice they recognised the necessity for relieving the congestion at Palmerston North. Palmerston X. station was the second worst; for congestion in New Zealand. There was no getting away from that point of view. Ik* was at a loss to know why there was antagonism' between the two districts interested; Ho wanted to say that after going over the country he was of the opinion that it was well worthy ot a railway, and he believed that if they got ' a railway there could he no doubt it would pay. He was Minis-' ter for Finance, and as such it was his duly to see that the public money was properly expended, and that the people got the full value for it, They would understand that it was impossible for AH Coales aiut himself to come to a decision immediately. He and , Air Coates would confer with AH Fnrkert, the chief engineer, and AH AlcLean, the cheii railway engineer, aud make a re-

commendation to Cabined. Me wanted to tell them there could be no hmvy about it. They were not go-* ing to rush it from either pmut of. view. It would be looked al in a

businesslike way from the national si midpoint. Mr Massey was greeted with cheers at the conclusion of his reply. The ears for the trip were organised by Mr W. Darragh, of Kongolea, and they were provided by Messrs M. Hunt, E. Yalle'hdcr, A. Gust. C. Walk-in, A. Burges, A. Dear, and Or. Coley (of Foxlon). The Prime Minister and Minister for Public'. Works then departed for Palmerston N., where they met deputations in reference to the Palmerston deviation, and wore subsequently entertained at a banquet.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19201202.2.15

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2210, 2 December 1920, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,928

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY DEVIATION. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2210, 2 December 1920, Page 3

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY DEVIATION. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2210, 2 December 1920, Page 3

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