RAILWAY ALTERATIONS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 356, 10 February 1937, Page 4

RAILWAY ALTERATIONS.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Offer To Co-operate With Borough Council. “I think that the Borough Council can be taken as tfre principal exponent of public opinion and I think that wei can be of some assistance to them,” stated Mr J. B. Richards at iast night’s meetirg of fh'ie Stratford Chamber of Commerce prior to moving that the Mayor, Mr J W McMillan, be advised that the Chamber would be pleased to co-oper-ate witjh the Borough Council in the matter of the proposed alterations at the Stratford railway stationin bringing the matter before the meeting the President, Mr F. T. Hale, mentioned that a good deal of discussion concerning the removal of the railway station site had occupied the attention of the Chamber In the past. Primarily the matter war one for the Borough Council, but as the meeting was representative of the business people the Chamber should have a voice and perhaps a sub-committee could be set up, said Mr Richards. Personally he was of the opinion that there would never be a good town unless the station was shifted out of it. Years.' ago the railway officials came equipped with plans and announced I hat they would go ahead if the proposal was approved. Borough Council and other representatives asked for time to consider the project. In the afternoon the meeting was resumed and it was asked that overhead crossings in Fenton and Regan Streets be made the full width and that the lines should go down 12 feet. The officials agreed to that and tliemeeting then asked that a street be put through from the preEent locatTßn of the taxi stand to Juliet Street. H<? thought that the reserving of that space w r as made with a view to carry-

ing out an implied promise. An overhead bridge in Regan Street was agreed to but since then other buildings had been erected and the department would have to face payment of greater compensation. The question of compensation in the southern end of the town was pointed out to the Minister of Railways. Mr J. G. Coates and the General Manager, Mr R. W. McVilly, and it was emphasised that it would not be fair to allow the owners of dwellings to continue to improve their homes and gardens and then take the land. Plans submitted were carefully considered and approved. Larger View Taken, In recent years, continued Mr Richards. there was an element of fear that business might 3’iffe v , but ho took the larger view thac Jt w uld b'* more convene,-r.t and much Better for the town md d.strict .f the station were removed. Jne thing that perhaps was over’poked was Ihe effect of smoke from .-hunting opt rations. It was a very serious matter, as the smoke not only tarnished the buildings, but quickly rotted them. Most towns made a point of having their railway stations out of the town. He d>J not think Khat there would be any advantage in ‘having a passenger station in the town should the removal of the station be decided upon. It might effect people travelling short distances, but most railway travellers went fair distances and would not mind taking taxis. It was unthinkable to cloen Regan or Fenton Streets. Tho town would have to be moved. ’Going on to refer to the lay-out of the town, Mr. Richards said it was not desirable to have a large block in the centre of the town. It was preferable to have a small block and make the blocks larger as the town expand ed. Now there was a great opportunity to make an ideal town by putting a street through from Broadway Io Juliet Street. If the street were put through and the town grew, as all hoped it would do, all the railway land would be most valuable for business purposes. The proposal was one which must therefore appeal to the Department. No doubt if the slump had not arrived there would have been a new station. The Department had been carrying on with makeshift arrangements, but that was what a lot of people had to do under slump conditions. Closing Fenton Street. In reply to the president, the stationmaster, Mr. R. Bowie, said the plans which he had seen were in connection with the proposal to close Fenton Street. To do the job properly, buildings would have to bo taken over and the railway bridge widened. A road would go under the bridge, and at the crossing there would be a subway for pedestrians. The scheme, however, was only a suggestion. There had also been some suggestion of alterations at the Regan Street crossing. Mr J. C. Allen stated that Mr D.

J. Malone had obtained a written assurance from the Department before erecting his present premises that Fenton Street would not be closed. Replying to Mr. Allen, Mr. Richards said the idea was to drop the line and lower the bridge and have the railway station between Warwick Road and Romeo Street. Warwick Road would be closed and traffic i would go over Romeo Street crossing, i All tho land had been taken as far j south as Nash Road. It was antici- | pated that when the connection was ! made with the Main Trunk the new i station would have to be ready. How--1 ever, tho Department carried on durling the made alterations to | meet the increased traffic, and finally l found that the provision made was I not adequate. At one time there had I been a move to erect the station at t the north end of the town. The people | thought it would be lovely to have the train whistling and screeching ; during the night, but when they | thought it over they decided they did 1 not want the station. The south i people were glad to get it. thinking, perhaps, that property values would appreciate. i "We as a chamber "should lend ; every assistance we can to the Bor- ■ ough Council.” said Mr. Hale. ‘ Mr. Richards' motion offering to j co-operate with the council was ac- . corded unanimous support. i Present were: Messrs, F. T. Halo (president), Rex Watson, H, F. I Vosseler. L. J. Rowell, D. R. McLean. I J. C. Allen. J. B. Richards, R. Bowie i (stationmaster), C. E. Scott (postmaster), and F. E, Clarke (secretary).