A PAROCHIAL PRESIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2281, 26 May 1921, Page 2

A PAROCHIAL PRESIDENT.

IT the last meeting of the council if the Palmerston North Chamber d' Commerce, a letter was read rom the Chamber of Commerce, N’a pier, asking whether the Chaniicr could supply any definite infornation as to what course was likely .o be adopted by the Government regarding the proposed Levin-Great-I’ord deviation. The chairman (Mr 11. L. Young) explained that he had replied to the communication, stating that the Palmerston North scheme was the only departmental proposal, and that the Levin-Greatford scheme was really an agitation by a number of settlers and interested parties. The chairman's action was endorsed. The latter portion of the president’s statement • discloses either ignorance or deliberate misrepresentation. Probably the latter. Every intelligent person throughout the Dominion who has given the subject of linking up the main trunk line between Greatford and Levin consideration is agreed that it is a work of national importance. The inference concerning a number of settlers and interested parties is a childish attempt to belittle a national work. Willethe gentleman responsible for the statement name one settler between Greatford and Levin who would benefit financially bv linking up and shortening the Auckland-Wellington route? Palmerston’s opposition smack's of parochialism and selfishness. No sensible person is opposed to relieving the railway congestion at Palmerston, but Parliament and the country will certainly object to any huge expenditure on a local deviation when, for a little extra, a pork of greater national importance can be undertaken, and at the same time relieve the congestion at Palmerston. The fear of these little Peddlingtons is that Palmerston will be side-track-ed, and in prder to avoid this visionary set-back, nine-tenths of the travelling public are to tie diverted at extra expense and loss of time miles out of their way. Palmerston's opposition is ridiculous.