Drury or Runciman?

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 144, 11 February 1916, Page 2

Drury or Runciman?

i TO THE EDITOR. |

Sir,—Having react in tbe "Times" of 2nd February tbe account of the different deputations that interviewed tbe Railway Manager, Mr E 11 Hiley, re the Drury and Runciman Railway Stations, 1 must confess that many of the arguments adduced in favour of the Runciman station being retained appear to me to be very weak and somewhat selfish. It U an acknowledged fact tint tne Runciman station at present h dangerous to tbe travelling public. Fatal accidents have occurred thare, and it is therefore necessary to rennve it so that improvements to ensure tbe safety of the travelling public may be carried ou\ There ij Ic3h than one mile between the Drury and Runciman stations so I think all the settlers will admit that their requirements will be better i met it the suggestion of tbe Railway Department to have one good permanent station (officered and staffed efficiently) is adopted. The distance, if any, to either party would be so small thit it is not worth considering es compared with thj advantage of having one good permanent, efficiently-officered station as suggested by the Department and supported by the County Chairman, Mr Joseph Flanagan I was rather surprised at the absence of local patriotism tor their own district of some members of the deputation. l'hcy should have pointed out to the representatives of tli2 Railway Department the large area of land now lying unused from Maketu inwards through Ararimu, Faparimu, Paparata, etc., and should have advocated the Department taking into consideration ihe construction of a iine through those distiicts jun:tioning at Drury and thence o.iwardj to connect with tbe other line, which will have tj come soon to relieve the traffic on the main line. I'bey could have embraced a gool opportunity of showing bow settlemeat of land within thirty miles of the city of Auckland, much now unoccupied, could be eff cted and rendered revenue bearing by giving better transit facilities, since some thousands of acres now unused could be made to produce butter, wojl, beef, mutton, fruit, etc, The cbsirman of the Karaka Road Board spoke ot 1000 acres lying in its natural etate—presumably at tho Karaka. Let him and tbe others jnin hands for one station and add to that 1000 acres (1 think I might safely say at the least) 20,000 acres, all within 30 mil s of the city of Auckland waiting for the industrious small farmer that will produce yields and keep down pests wbich infect unoccupied land. —I am, etc.,

U B FROST Ararimu, 7th February, 1916