Feilding Business Interests Protest

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 27, 2 February 1937, Page 3

Feilding Business Interests Protest

Against Kimbolton Road Ramp PUBLIC PETITION SUGGESTED. A well attended meeting of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce last evening unanimously endorsed the protest of the Feilding Borough Council against the proposal of tho Public Works Department and the Main Highways Board to erect a ramp, costing £7OOO, over the Kimbolton road railway level crossing. “I certainly think that any support this chamber can give to prevent the erection of tho ramp over the railway crossing on Kimbolton road, will be welcomed by the Borough Council’’ said Mr A. C. McCorkindale. “In fact” ho went on, “it was desirable that every public body should get behind tho Borough Council because in my opinion it is most undesirable to have such an‘eyesore’ erected in tho towu.’’ Mr J. S. Tingey would be , T cry pleased to seo the chamber voice its protest and back up the protest of tho Borough Council. Ho was satisfied that the crossing was not so dangerous as to warrant the erection of a ramp. If it was then there was justification for the erection of ramps over tho thousands of other crossings throughout New Zealand. There was a danger at all crossings and as a layman he suggested that the danger could be eliminated without the expense of a ramp. There were other methods, one to station a mau on the crossing to warn and stop traffic on the approach of trains or alternatively tho provision of electrically controlled barriers such as were in use over far busier crossings in various States in America. Ho was strenuously opposed to tho idea of the cumbersome method of a ramp which would be in the nature of a disfigurement to tho town. Concluding Air Tingey moved that the chamber strongly protest against the ramp proposal and take every step, to have its protest lodged with the proper authorities. Air F. Taylor seconded the motion and said, as a citizen, that he was strongly opposed to the idea which would spoil the beauty of the towu. Air E. Goodbehero supjvJvted the protest and suggested that it might bo advisablo to follow up tho protest with a petition of ratepayers and citizens, lie opine ’ that the real danger lay in the fact of shunting over the crossing and if this was eliminated he felt that thq real inconvenience would disappear. The existing situation certainly did not warrant such a work as a ramp and he hoped that the strongest possible protest would be made. Mr C. Hansmann considered it would be nothing short of a disaster if the Government attempted to insist upon j erecting a ramp over the crossing. He I had never felt that the crossing was dangerous. The suggestion of shifting the station further south and closing tho Gladstone street crossing was, to his mind, tho solution of tho problem and ho was convinced that the closing of the Gladstone street crossing would confer a blessing on the community. (Hear, hear). 11c knew of no more dangerous crossing than the one crossing Gladstone street—it was a nightmare and he marveled that it had not been the scene of a tragedy. Citing crossings similar to Kimbolton road the speaker referred to that at Waipukurau where the ramp proposal was defeated. “If tho Government wished to spend £7OOO in providing work for unemployed about the town and district let it employ tho money iu shifting tho railway station” concluded the speaker. ‘ ‘ The thing was too serious to be allowed to go by default,” said Hon. J. G. Cobbe in urging the chamber to get behind the Borough Council in a vigorous protest. lie had been informed that an outside member of Parlia--1 ment together with Public Works cn- ■ gineers proposed visiting Feilding to--1 morrow to view tho crossing and ATr. L Cobbe urged that members of the Cham- ' bers of Commerce should make it their 1 business to be in attendance. Ho had 1 been told that ho ought to be present 1 arid intended to do so but urged that • the chamber take its protest up vigor--1 ously and if necessary support the Bor

ough Council in a deputation to tlio Minister. “Our strongest point is to provo to tlio Minister that the crossing is not dangerous/ 7 said Mr Hausmann. (Hear hear.) “I think there has been only one fatal accident in 23 years. 77 “I was Coroner at tho time, 77 said Mr. Goodbehere, “and according to the engine driver it was not an accii dent. 77 i Mr. F. Kendall asked whether the • proposal did not result from the agitas tion oi ! the Borough Council some few i years ago about the crossing being i dangerous. Mr. Fitzpatrick denied that this Avas l the position. Tho action had been taken by the Main Highways Board which had decided to eliminate level crossings over main highways. He argued that tho council should have alternatives to offer tho Minister and two had been suggested by Mr. Tingey, a either of which would meet the needs of the situation. a Mr. Finlay remarked that ho was 7 [aware that railway engineers were tQ

visit Feilding this week in connection with certain work to be done in' the statiou yards in connection with stock accommodation. He had not heard that they would have anything to do with the ramp proposal. The president (Air. A. J. Humphreys) denied that any action of tho Chamber of Commerce bad inspired tho Public Works Department to decide upon the erection of a ramp. What the chamber had done was to represent to the statioumaster tho question of the closing of the crossing by trains drawing across tho highway. These representations had been met by the stationmaster who had always been ready to assist tho town. In his opinion there was no economic justification for the erection of a ramp over the crossing. Kimbolton road was so wide and the view so good that danger was practieally negligible. People ran into lamp posts but those people could not be protected by padding such posts. Opinion in opposition to the proposal apeared to be unanimous and tho speaker therefore felt that the officers of tho chamber would be justified in informing the Mayor that the chamber would be prepared to back up the Borough Council in its efforts to prevent tho erection of the ramp. The motion was then put to the rnecting and carried unanimously.