LEVIN-MARTON DEVIATION AGAIN A LIVE ISSUE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3948, 28 May 1929, Page 3

LEVIN-MARTON DEVIATION AGAIN A LIVE ISSUE.

The abandonment of the Palmerston railway deviation has raised hopes of future development in regard to the shortening of the main trunk route. With a view to bringing these possibilities prominently before the Government the Levin and Foxton Chambei-s of Commerce intend to take early action as is indicated by the discussion at Thursday’s meeting of the Levin Chamber. The Foxton Chamber of Commerce wrote suggesting that the Levin Chamber consider the matter of the Levin-Marion deviation as Hie Foxton Chamber believed the lime was now opportune for making a further move in this connection.

Mr. F. G. Roe wrote regretting being unable to attend the meeting owing to an important engagement. The letter continued: “Mr. Field, M.P. for Otari, stated in the House that, this deviation would mean a two-hours’ difference between Wellington, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Auckland when -the Tawa Flat deviation is completed. With the colmpletion of the 'South Island main line, 'Sir Joseph Ward estimates a. saving of bj hours between Dunedin and Wellington. This would mean! a tot-al saving of 8A hours in the journey from Dunedin to Auckland.” Mr. Roe urged that no opportunity should be lost in approaching Sir Joseph Ward, who seemed vetry favourably impressed with'the proposed line some years ago.

' A plan of the route prepared by Mr. C. W. Foster, surveyor, was before the meeting, showing the manner in which the proposed line cut across the base of the triangle from Levin to Marion, the long sides being represented by the Le-vin-Palmers ton, Palmerston-Alar-tun routes. The area that would bo served -by the deviation c-ontained ten dairy factories with an output of 30,000 tons of butter annually, six flaxmills, and some fine blocks of land (hat could be sub-divided for close settlement.

The President, Mr. C. S. Keedwe.ll, thought the time was not quite opportune for asking the- Govern ment to make a decision, especially in view of the other works in hand. When the Tawa Fiat deviation was complete it would be -the turn of Hie Levin-Marton route, but the Chambers should see that the Government was well acquainted with the advantage's and saying of time possible bv constructing the devia-

Mr. 11. G. Iverslake said that when a party of 'members of Parliament went through to Foxton some years ago, it was surprising how few -off them were acquainted with Hie advantages of the route or even knew where it was located. A very convincing statement could he prepared of extracts from the findings of various commissions, the favourable report of the Public Works engineering survey, and Hie information now in 'possession of the Chamber. The -advocates of the deviation could do good work by making certain that the new Ministers and Parliament knew all about

The President stated that the Chalmher had a mass, of data, relating In Hue matter. Sir Robert Stout's Commission found that the deviation would be necessary when there were two Alain Trunk expresses running. After fnrther conversational discussion, it was resolved that the time was opportune to again take up propaganda work in regard to the Levin-Afarton deviation, and that a conference he held with the Foxton Chamber to formulate plans for this puipose.