LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2810, 13 November 1924, Page 2

LEVIN-MARTON RAILWAY.

DISCUSSED BY MAXAWATU COUNTY COUNCIL. Arising; out of n letter from the Foxfon Chaniber of Commerce, asking that a delegate be appointed to. allend a conference to discuss the Levin-Marton railway and to formulate evidence to be submitted before ihe English Railway Commissioners, Sir James Wilson remarked that the Mhnawatu Council had been the milch cow in the. past and that i! had to hear the bulk- of the cosj of previous enquiry. He did not think the Council should spend any more money on commissions. At. the same lime, if the deviation was going to be of direct benefit to the ilisItiel. the Council should put itself mil to meet the request of the Fo.von Chamber of Commerce. Councillor Pennv considered that the Council would lie only wasting lime and whilst I lie chairman agreed Iha I Hull might lie, life Council should no -how absolute indifference In |hi* scheme. This Council had had so many i.ommissioiis and whilst I hose hail been somewhat biassed, In- fdi Ihal I lie visiting Commission would br in a position to give an unbiassed report.

Councillor Penny did not, think the deviation would ever eventuate and pointed out that the County’s i -\\ a I mi- was nogl*•(*t cd. ’I hi* bulk idtin' freight went bv motor lorry. Tin- Chairman stated that lie was i-.\| renii'ly disappointed that the Council did not get more support from Northern interests. He had disclis--1,1 the project with one authority, wlm staled that the deviation would eoine in time, but Sir James doubtid whether il would eventuate in I lie ( lolirieil’s I inie.

( 'iiutii'illoi* fioyee eonsidered that tin less railways tin- Government built. Ibe better it would be for the country. AI the present time bilge -unis of moin-y were being ex fiend eil in pulling the road- in order, and (hi- mu.-l ultimately ailed the railu;i «•-. The ebairmau did not agree with till- opinion and pointed out j |, a! an a gen iof the Kailway Department bad visited the settler- oil tin main trunk line and had :-;eeured promises that their wool would In t rueked 'in preference to -ending 'i |,y road, li appeared that the settiers were realr-jfjg that it was cheaper in the long run to use the railway arid save the road-, thus saving the rates.

After further di-eu-sion. Councillor Barber and the Clerk were deputed to represent the Council at ihi coni' erera-i-.