WAIRARAPA RAILWAY SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 19 April 1913, Page 5

WAIRARAPA RAILWAY SERVICE.

AND THE WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. At the meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, a. communication' was received from the Secretary of the Wellington Chamber, in reference to tho articles that hac' appeared in the Wairarapa Age, drawing attention to me indifference of Wellington merchants concerning the development of the Wairarapa. The Wellington Chamber forwarded a resolution framed on the subject. (This lias already been published in the Age.) The Secretary stated that the Wellington Chamber had omitted to state tliat it had been urging the duplication! of the Manawatu line, via Akatarawa.

The President (Mr Daniell) said the letter from the Wellington Chamber was courteous indeed. The reference to what tlie Wellington Chamber had done was unworthy of that body. Tho remarks concerning the Rimutaka railway did not do credit to a body of business men. Mr Daniel! referred to the fact that the expenditure on railways had enormously increased in recent years. He did not think that the people of Wellington had treated the matter of the Rimutaka railway in a business-like way. The Auckland people did things differently. He thought the Wellington Chamber should display greater earnestness. Mr Darnell stated that he had learned from Mr Svkes that the output from the Wairarapa stations was greater tlian that from any other stations in the Dominion. In conclusion, Mr Daniell urg-ed that tho Chamber should impress upon Wellington people the importance of the Rimutaka deviation. Mr J. Caselberg thought they were wasting time in advocating t'liie deviation of the Ilium taka. The policy of the Government was to opan up the land. They should devote their energies to getting the backblocks opened by railway. Mr Daniell stated that they had been advocating Both works in the past. The two ran together.

Mr Caselbsa'g said his own view was that they should strive to get the railway put through to Waipukurau. They were already sei-ved with a railway from Wellington, though not as well served as they might be. Mr J. Brown -was of opinion tMt they should advocate the opening up of the East Coast instead of the duplication of the West Coast railway. Masteaton should be linked up with the East Coast railway. He thought they should urge the Government to construct the railway to Waipukurau rather than duplicate the West Coast line. He moved that delegates from this Chamber should interview the delegates from the Wellington Chamber on their visit to Masterton, and explain the requirements <of the district.

Mr R. Brown thought they should wait upon the Wellington delegates when they visited Masterton.

Mr Keith considered the reply of the Wellington Chamber was a childtell one. The Masterton Chamber had ln-en advocating the deviation of the Rimutaka railway, and railway communication with the backblocks, for years back. Mr J. Caselberg seconded the resolution of Mr J. Brown. Mr W. B. Chennelb moved that the Chairman and Mr Keith frame a reply to the Wellington Chamber's letter.

Mr Logan seconded. The President tnought it would be a pity if they showed a diversity of opinion over the question of th-* Rimutaka deviation. Messrs J. Brown and Caselberg pointed out that they were not opposed to the Rimutaka deviation. All tliev wanted was to get the East Coast railway first. The deviation of the Rimutaka would follow as a matter of courseMr Daniell asked if anybody thought, under the present financial conditions, there was any chance of pitting the East Coa-st railway started. Voices: Yes. We have an energetic Government now. After further discussion, the resolution of Mr Chennels was put and carried. Mr Daniell said that, in view of the discussion, h e.would move that the Minister be thanked for his offer to visit the district and be informed that his visit is no longer required. Mr J. Brown said the President had failed to understand what memhere had stated. The Chairman : Thank you. I have tried. I am sorry to have troubled members so much. Next business, plea se! A number: What about Mr Brown's i-esolution ? Mr Brown, stated that he had moved that delegates from the Masterton Chamber should interview the delegates from the Wellington Chamber ;uid exnlain what the district required. He stated that the President was quite wrong in assuming that he was opposed to the iß.imutaka deviation. He was in favour of that project. He thought, however, that in the meantime they •should bring all the pressure possible to bear on the matter of opening up the Ea.st Coast. The President: lam willing to confer on the matter. I will not interview. The resolution of Mr Brown was then carried on the voices, the President alone dissenting. Mr Daniell: I am willing to wait upon the Minister. He its our representative. I am not going to wait upon other people in the matter.