Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1911 WAIRARAPA TRAIN SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10153, 1 February 1911, Page 4

Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1911 WAIRARAPA TRAIN SERVICE.

The deputation which waited upon the Minister for Railways yesterday met with a courteous, if not. cordial reception. The Minister made it clear that the Wairarapa cannot be provided with a, time-table approximating to that which was in existence prior to the taking over of the Manawatu railway. The reason is obvious, i.e., that it pays .better to convey stock and goods from the district beyond Eketahuna to Wellington via the Manawatu lino than along the shorter but more expensive Rimutaka route. Apparently public convenience must be sacrificed to a very great extent to enable the Minister to effect an economy. It is satisfactory to note that, the Hon. J. A. Millar is willing to make some little concession to the Wairarapa. This will probably take the form of a 6,30 morning train from Masterton for the north, and a better service from Woodville to Masterton. The Wairarapa and Bush districts may rest satisfied that their convenience will never be fully studied so long as the Rimutaka incubus remains. This should at once suggest the formation of a powerful and influential Railway League, to bring pressure upon the Government to have the Rimutaka railway

deviated. What is wanted is an East Coast Railway League. It is only a question of time when the Poverty Bay district will be connected at the one end with Auckland, and at the other with Napier. Then it will be an East Coast trunk line. - Preceding this will probably be a branch line from Waipukurau to Masterton, opening up a' large area of country, and shortening the distance to Wellington. In 'anticipation of these projects, it is essential that the Rimutaka line should be deviated. It has to come, and the sooner the better. The Manawatu line can hardly stand the strain which is at present being put upon it. The expense of duplicating it would be enormous. There is only one course open, therefore, and that is to deviate the Rimutaka with as much expedition as possible. The Chambers of Commerce from Wellington to Napier, with the members for the respective districts, should at once combine with the districts beyond to bring such pressure to bear upon the Government as will induce immediate steps being taken in this important matter.