RAILWAY DEVIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2264, 16 April 1921, Page 4

RAILWAY DEVIATION.

DISCUSSION AT WELLINGTON.

At the meeting of the Council of the Central Chamber of Commerce at Wellington on Wednesday, the chairman (Mr A. L. Hunt) asked the members to confirm a resolution passed in 1914 by a conference of local bodies and chambers of commerce, favouring the proposed deviation between Levin and Marton. Mr Hunt incidentally mentioned the proposal to construct a new station and yards altogether at Palmerston North. He stated that the deviation mentioned would save some 10 miles, which was very important in a main trunk line. It seemed to him that it was a matter of local Palmerston North interests as against the larger interests of the North Island. It was a matter that should be looked at from a national point, of view.

Mr L. A. Edwards said he would second the motion (to reaffirm the resolution) pro forma, in order to say that he was diametrically opposed to it. He had been given a definite statement that the amount proposed to be spent on a new station at Palmerston North was iniquitous and unnecessary, and that the proposed deviation would never pay interest on the money expended. He was not at liberty to disclose the authority on whose statement he had based his opinion.

Mr Hart pointed out Unit there were two deviations proposed —one from Levin to Marton or Grealford, and another that would just avoid the town, linking up at Terrace End. The proposal was to affirm the Levin-Marton deviation. Mr C. J. Ward said that he was opposed to the cutting out of Palmerston North. The most vital thing was to conserve the interests of the big provincial towns, which were more important to Wellington than cutting out Hi miles of the Welling!on-Aucklnnd journey. Mr Hart reminded the council that the matter was at present the subject of an inquiry by a commission. The big deviation, he was sure, would not pay interest on its cost. The other point was whether a new station should be built that would remove the tracks from the centre of the town, or whether sufficient land could be obtained near the existing station for the enlargement of the yards tn cope with the increasing traffic. He did not feel that they should affirm a resolution passed so long ago. Conditions today were quite different.

The chairman said the matter should he viewed from a national point of view, which meant the adoption of the strnighicsj possible route. It would not mean that Palmerston would be cut out, as there would always he trains running through there, including the through express to Napier.

Finally'the matter was left over for further consideration, the motion not being put.

DEVIATION DEVIATED. If rumour is to be relied upon, the Palmerston Railway Deviation Commission has asked for an extension of time, and will not bring flown its report until the Prime Minister is out upon the waste of waters, headed for the Homeland, says the M.I). Times. Our contemporary continues: It is always risky to prophesy, liul we think it will he found that the Commission will report in favour of the deviation. But if it does so report, how much farther shall we be It is too much to expect that Air Massey will have left behind him any authority to proceed with the work, notwithstanding that Parliament lias already authorised i(. Tt is extremely doubtful whether there is any fund from which the money for the preliminary work can be obtained. This means that the whole tiling will be delayed. That would not lie a very serious milter were it not that a number of municipal undertakings are being most expensively held up ponding a decision. Palmerston is being hit, and hit very bard by the policy of procrastination anif time-serving which the Government has pursued in this matter. We shall be glad to hear that the member for the district has made one last strenuous effort to bring about a decision one wav or the other.