MINISTERIAL VISIT TO FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2641, 4 October 1923, Page 3

MINISTERIAL VISIT TO FOXTON.

INTERVIEW WITH DEPUTATION.

Word was received from Mr J. Linklater, M.P V yesterday morning that the. Minister of Public Railways and Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates, accompanied by Mr R. W. McVilley, General Manager of Railways, would visit Foxton by special train at 10 a.m. Representatives of (he Borough Council, Manawatu County Council and Chamber of Commerce were got in touch with and it was decided to meet and Interview the Minister upon arrival and lay before him certain matters of local and district importance. Those representing the deputation were: Crs. A. N. Smith, Bryant, McMurray and the Town Clerk (Borough Council), Hornblow, Christie, Moir (Chamber of Commerce) : W. E. Barber Manawatu County Council), W. Signal, (Harbour Board). Those accompanying the Minister and. General Manager of Railways were Messrs J. Linklater, M.P., W. Furkert, J. Bevan (traffic manager, Wellington) and several departmental officials.v Mr Hornblow, in welcoming the Minister, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Mayor. He said that they regretted the short notice given of the visit, as this pro - eluded Foxton from extending its characteristic hospitality to the visitors. There were one or two matters which the Chamber of Commerce had given attention to and which he desired to bring under the notice of the Minister. SHANNON BRIDGE AND WHIROKTNO ROAD. Although the Chamber had unofficial standing in regard to the Shannon bridge and Whirokino road, these road communications were of the utmost importance to the commercial welfare of Foxton. The Chamber had urged upon the Manawatu County Council the necessity for obtaining Government assistance in support of what must be considered work of an extraordinary nature. They had suggested that the Minister visit the localities. Grants for work of a similar nature had been made to other hodies. The present road at Whirokino was laid on a “floating surface” and was subject to subsidence and assistance to deviate it to higher ground was sought. The Shannon bridge was also threatened and in this connection assistance was asked for. Cr. Barber, having apologised for the absence of Sir James Wilson, chairman of the-speaker’s council, referred to the flooding of the roads from Foxton during rainy periods. In referring to the,.Whirokino road, he sgid the main outlets from Foxton to both Levin and Shannon were troubled by the prevalence of floods. It was felt that the Government should assist the County Council to keep the roads in order, as during

some periods of last, winter, some of them had been almost impassable. Jt was a matter which, vitally affected Foxton, as on 'some occasions the town was almost'cut off by reason of the flooded roads. MINISTER’S VIEWS.

Mr Coates said the question of this road had been gone into very fully and while it had not quite readied the stage of necessity, there were many parts of the country where the settlers did not have so much as a pig track as access to their properties. ’ Of course, he recognised the importance ot* the main traffic routes, though lie, as Minister would have nothing to do with them under the Act. With Tegard to the Whirokino road, Mr Coates said he had already informed Mr Linklater, that the Department would have no objections to fresh land being acquired for the deviation of this route and when the county authorities could show the line that was proposed to be taken the Government would consider the question of a contribution. However he was of opinion that as long as the road was left on its present course, it wopld he of no use spending money on it. Mr Barber said some sound places had been found on ,the present road if assistance could lie obtained to maintain it,

A[r Coates: “I agree that, traffic routes axe most important, hut at - the same time I think the railways should have a share of the revenue from the traffic passing through the district. We (the Government) would have no objection to the County Council takipg the land and putting the road on a higher level but in its present state it will never be satisfactory. If you can tind a way out other than this, well and good.” Mr Barber: “To out the deviation would mean a poll of the \ ratepayers and it would not be carried as the burden? would fall on the ratepayers in the riding.” The Minister: “Well why not make it a county road?” Mr Barber: “All the county is not interested in it.” The Minister: “It is the same old, story; keeping to these little ridings.” The Minister said the district engneer had made up his mind that the deviation was very desirable and he approved it, failing some better proposal. It was not a riding road but affected the whole country. Mr Furkert said they had inspected the proposed deviation. Mr Barber: “The through traffic broke up the road.” Mr Furkert: “What are you making the motor traffic pay?” Mr Barber: “We had thought of putting a tax on it, but the legal opinion we had was to the effect that we were not entitled to levy the tax.” The Minister confirmed this, citing a magistrate’s ruing on the question and added that the coun-

ties should take action in reference to this decision which was not fair. Thes object was not further discussed but it was made quite clear that no assistance would be forthcoming from the Government unless the road was diverted to higher ground and the Minister said the whole matter had been fully discussed wth Mr Linklater, M.P., whose attitude had been very persistent. ' FREIGHTS. The question of freights was then advanced by members of the deputation, the disparity in the rates for the carriage of benzine by rail and road being pointed out. It was mentioned that the rates on benzine from Wellington to Foxton by rail were considerably in excess of those ruling on road transport. The freights charged for the carrying, of metal on the railways were also mentioned as being a subject for consideration. ■’ The Minister: “If you like to have the freights on metal raised, it might be possible to reduce those on benzine.”

Continuing, the Minister said: “Answer nn< this question: If you had good roads could you do without the railway? After all, the railways have to' pay, and I think they ought, to pay, but this Foxton branch is another incubus which is being charged to the whole country.” Mr Hornblow pointed out that in times past when there was plenty of shipping to the port, the Foxton line was the best paying branch railway in the Dominion;

“At the present time,” said Mr Coates, “you have the road and the railway line running side by side in competition and neither method is profitable. If you had a. good road couldn’t you do without, the railway and let all your passengers and goods be transferred by road?” Dir Christie: “Oh no; it is bad enough now with the restricted service that we have.”

“As to the freights,” said the Minister, “this question is at present in the ‘boiling pot,’ and will be fully reviewed.”*' • A question was then asked about sorting charges, apropos of which Mr Linklater said the port authorities were rif opinion that the charges were 100 high. The Minister replied (lint he would look into the matter adding humorously: “The only thing to satisfy the public is to gve them everything free of charge.” (Laughter). Mr McVilley said the sorting charges did not apply to Foxton. The party made an inspection of the wharf before departing.