RAILWAY DEVIATION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2249, 10 March 1921, Page 2

RAILWAY DEVIATION

The Commission, . consisting of Messrs W. M. Hammy (chairman), A. H. Miles, and J. Mnrchbanks, set up by the Government to inquire regarding railway facilities at Palmerston North, and any deviation between Paekakariki and Marton, commenced its sitting in Palmersr ton North in the Courthouse at 2.30 o’clock yesterday, and proceeded to take evidence on these matters.

Air M. Myers, of Wellington, appeared for the Department, and Mr Martin Luekie for the Levin-Great-ford League. Mr Gram appeared for the Chamber of Commerce (Palmerston North). Mr Myers stated that he proposed to call no evidence. He had already called expert advice, upon which the Government would have to rely, and any further evidence would be non-expert. Mr Luekie objected that he should have to start the ball rolling. It was for the Department, ■ lie said, to show cause for the deviation. Mr Myers said that ho did not come in the capacity of a litigant, and that it was for Mr Luekie to show cause why the Palmerston N. scheme should not he proceeded with.

The Commission upheld the Departmental representative’s contention, and the tirst witness was Sir James Wilson.

Sir James Wilson said the Commission had a matter of national importance to consider, and one that, considering the amount of money that would bo involved „ in carrying out the Palmerston North scheme, should he carefully considered. especially with regard to the distinct advantages to he gained by another deviation from Greatford to Levin that would at once shorten the through line and relieve the congestion at Palmerston North. Mr McVilly had made his suggestion ns U railway man exclusively. In his Capacity he was not asked to consider the question from (lie wider viewpoint than that of an engineer. The only gain by spending £700,000 on the Palmerston North deviation would he to give better facilities to Palmerston North, whereas the Levin-Great ford deviation would shorten the line by 17 miles and would eoimnensurately reduce freight charges- and time occupied in travelling.

Mr Myers said that in 1910 an engineering estimate of the cost of constructing the Levin-Groat ford line was £12,000 a mile. Sir James urged that everything was coming down in price. Mr Myers replied that in that case the cost of the Palmerston North deviation would also he reduced.

Continuing, Sir James gave an emphatic denial to any suggestion of the Mamuvatu County Council wishing to dispose of its tramway. It was of immense importance in conveying gravel for the county roads —work that could not be done on the ordinary Government line-. Witness also mentioned the inevitable duplication of the main lines at no very distant date, and held that tlie Levin-Greatford line would actually make the duplication and save 17 miles between the two points mentioned.

Evidence was also given by Mr R. W. Holmes, at one time engineer - in-chief of the Public Works Department, Mr W. Thomson, T. J. Rodgers, W. Cook, John Aitcheson, J. Lreland, A. L, Cook, C. X. Clausen, and J. A. Nash. John Chrystall, Mayor of Foxton, representing the Foxton Borough Council ami the” Levin-Great-ford Railway League, asked to be allowed to make a statement on oath. After outlining the' disadvantages of the proposed deviation from the League’s point of view, lie said the League submitted tlyit Mr Idiley’s recommendation should be carried out in its entirety. Tt was suggested that the goods station should be situated at Terrace End, and the passenger station where it is at present. Even if the LevinGreat ford League got the deviation they wanted, he would still oppose this scheme on the ground of unnecessary expense. The photograph of a piece of country in the Whirokino district: under flood produced showed part of the proposed LevinGreat ford route. That was the shortest route, but there was an alternative route. The Hooding difficulty could be got over by banking in the same manner that the Manawatu Railway Company had put fifteen miles through the Makerua swamp.