PAPAKURA & MANUREWA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 471, 10 October 1919, Page 4

PAPAKURA & MANUREWA.

Extended Train Services. Co-operation Agreed On. At Monday's meeting of the Papakura Town Board the Manurewa Town Board wrote stating that at its last meeting the question of a better railway service was discussed and it was thought imperative that some action should be taken while Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey held the office of Minister for Railways. Tile Board suggested an extension of the Papatoetoe service and solicited the Papakura Board's co-operation in the matter. The Chairman of the Manurewa Town Board, Mr C. H. Lupton, waited on the Board in connexion with the matter and said that they, as representatives of the ratepayers, wanted to show they bad the interest of the districts at heart. He was positive that both Papakura and Manurewa were suffering for want of interest. The whole country was progressing rapidly and one point he particularly emphasised was that the housing problem in the cities was becoming a difficult question. There was a congestion and to his mind the only cure was to open up the suburban country districts and induce people to come from town to live there. The one way in which they could o"ffer some inducement was to agitate for an improved railway service He stressed the importance of having the Papatoetoe suburban service introduced as far as Papakura. This would go a long way towards inducing people to live at Papakura and Manurewa. Papatoetoe, he pointed out, was getting past the suburban class and was becoming a second Remuera, Land was at a price that the working classes could not afford to acquire. As an alternative the labouring classes would have to reside at either Papakura or Manurewa If they did not move in the matter at once while the member for the district was Minister for Railways he thought it would be difficult to get consideration later on. There was a possibility of a circuit extending to Paumure, and if this was carried iato effect there would be a big influx of the city population taking up residence there. They wanted the population at Papakura and Manurewa and now was the time to move and urge the necessity of an improved and speedier train servioe. They should have, and urgently wanted, a similar service as Papatoetoe. Referring to the matter from a health point of view, Mr Lupton said it was far healthier for children to live in the country than in tho citiesMr Jones endorsed Mr Lupton's remarks and said Papaknra was quite willing to co-operate. Mr E. D. McLennan supported the chairman and moved that the Board support Manurewa's request and that Mr Jones be appointed to confer with Mr Lupton to urge upon the Minister for Railways the need for an improved railway service to t Papakura. Mr Campbell seconded and Dr Brookfield supported the proposal. Thejmotion was carried unanimously.