RAILWAY COMMISSION

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2251, 15 March 1921, Page 1

RAILWAY COMMISSION

The taking of evidence before the Railway Commission at Palmerston N. was concluded on Thursday, and adjourned to Wellington, where it will take further evidence on March 22nd. HARBOUR BOARD CHAIRMAN'S EVIDENCE. The Chairman of the Fox ton Harbour Board (Mr Joseph Linklater), who is also chairman of the Kairanga County Council, in evidence said that both bodies had gone into the matters into which the enquiry was being made. As far as the Foxton Harbour Board was concerned, it was not affected by either scheme. The Kairanga county was a farming district, from which large consignments'of stock were sent,, and congestion at the present railway yards made serious delays. The trucking yards were in a bad position, and stock had to be driven there before any traffic appeared in the town at all. Cattle could not be detrucked until early in the morning. The Council was thoroughly in accord with the plan of moving Iho station. Both bodies which he re-presented-were strongly against the Levin-Great ford railway, though the Harbour Board was not unanimous, One member —the Mayor of Levin —was in favour of (he larger deviation. To Mr Luckie: Witness said that the larger deviation would decrease congestion at the existing Palmerston North station. It would not suit (he populace of the Kairanga County if the present yards were en- 1 larged, for the reason that the level crossings would not be done away with. Also, many farms fronting the line between Palmerston North and Longburn had no access except over the railway line.