THE FOXTON-PALMERSTON NORTH BRANCH LINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4482, 24 July 1930, Page 2

THE FOXTON-PALMERSTON NORTH BRANCH LINE.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO PREPARE EVIDENCE. PERSONNEL OF PALMERSTON NORTH COMMITTEE CRITICISED. A public meeting was convened b v tlie Fox ton Chamber of Commerce and held in the Town Hall supper-room on Tuesday evening lo discuss the position with regard lo the Foxton-Palmorston N. branch railway line. Mr. .J. K. Hornblow (president)! was voted to the chair.

In a brief review of the history of the Foxton branch line, Mr. Hornblow said that it was the oldest in the North Island and for many years, had been considered a most important branch. Foxton, many years ago, had had the opportunity of making Foxton the terminus of the old Manawatu Lipe but had let that opportunity slip, with the result that it had gone to Longburn. The branch line, however, was run successfully and did well as tlie main route to Wellington in those days was by rail to Foxton and then by eo;feli along the beach, on boat. The port was then most important. Later the Harbour Board become moribund and the Marine Department took over the control of the wharf. The Railway Department then took over the wharf and from that time for something like twentytwo years the Railway Department received a revenue in the vicinity of £12,000 per annum from the wharf, paying the Marine Department nothing. The money went into the Railway working account and the line was then acknowledged to‘be one of the best paving branches in the Dominion. The highways were improved, however, and the Railway revenue fell off. 'l'lie Haibour Board come into exislence again and when negotiations were on foot for the purchase of I lie wharf the Railway Department asked for £32,000. A Commission under the late Sir Robert Stout, however, fixed the price at £SOOO. The Board had taken over the control of the wharf and had been in operation ever since. There was now talk of the closing of the Foxton branch line hut the speaker did not think there was any suggestion that the line should be closed. Tt was as well to he prepared however, and evidence was being prepared to submit to a commission in opposition to any such suggestion and the lOliamber’s object in calling tlie meeting jiad been to (liable the public of Foxton to voice its opinions in the matter.

Mr. \\. Trueman said lie viewed with a certain amount of suspicion

the personnel of the Palmerston N. representatives elected to tender evidence before the Commission. Both Mr. M. A. Elliott and Mr. Fitdherhert, two representatives were members of the Wellington Harbour Board, When those gentlemen visited Foxton on the occasion of the last Municipal election they' had promised to do everything they could to foster the interests of the port of Foxton but now sitting as members of the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr. Elliott in particular was not so considerate in regard to the port of Foxton. The Foxton Harbour. Board district was partly in the Wellington Harbour district- and lie had yet to be convinced that Mr. Elliott was sincere in his desire to keep the Foxton line open. If the Railway Department decided to close the Foxtonj branch line it would be tantamount to closing the port which, lie thought, the Wellington Harbour Board would consider a matter- for congratulation. In his opinion Foxton could not be too sure about representation before the Commission on the matter and he urged that there be direct representation from Foxton to safeguard their own interests. It was very nice to find Palmerston North willing to assist in the matter but Foxton had everything at ,

stake as he curtailment of the service meant the end of the Harbour Board and a substantial rate to meet interest on capital.

The chairman said that he thought the Palmerston North Borough Council was genuinely interested in the retention of the present service. Mr. Trueman: Undoubtedly it is but Foxton Iras more at stake.

Mr. Rerreau (Mayor) outlined the various steps 'taken at the Rangiotu meeting and in Palmerston N. on Monday in the preparation of the evidence to go before the Commission which wa,s now being- typed. He and Mr. F. C. Raikes had represented the Chamber at those conferences. He stressed various matters of importance which should be incorporated in the evidence touching on the necessity for bringing before the notice of the Commission tlie unfairness of the present preferential railway tariff which operated to the detriment of Foxton and district.

(Considerable discussion ensued, the subject 'being freely debated, and i't- was finally decided that in llie opinion of the public meeting it was imperative 'that the FoxtonPalmorston North branch line be kept open but the matter of preparation of evidence to submit to the Commission in support of the resolution was left in the hands of the chairman and Messrs M. E. Perreau, W r . Trueman, D. R. Barron and G. F. Smith.