COUNCIL CHAGRINED.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17974, 20 March 1930, Page 4

COUNCIL CHAGRINED.

DEVIATION OF RAILWAY. ftUNISTEFJ REJECTS PROPOSAL. AIISLED BY HIGH OFFICIALS.

KEEN RESENTMENT EXPRESSED. Keen disappointment at an intimation from the Minister of Railways that the Government canot agree to diverting the railway lines'at Hamilton to allow the present railway bridge to be converted for traffic use and relieve the existing congestion was expressed by members of the Hamilton Borough Council at last night’s meeting. Allegations were made that high and responsible officials in the Railway Department had commended the scheme warmly and given councillors the impression that they were in favour of it, and that it would most probably be proceeded with.

At the council meeting last night a letter was received from the Minister (Hon. W. B. Taverner) as follows; “With reference to the representations that were made to me by a deputation from your council regarding the proposed deviation of the railway line from a point a short distance south of Franktou Junction to a point near Ruakura, 1 desire to say that I have had this proposal thoroughly investigated, with the result that I have come to the conclusion that the work is one that does not commend itself to me as necessary, and I cannot therefore agree to putting it in hand.” The Mayor (Air J. R. Fow) said when the deputation waited on Air Taverner, the Minister had been greatly impressed with the data laid before him, and had complimented the council ancl its engineer on the scheme. His' Worship then read the following reply which he had sent to the Alinister: — “I recognise that the deviation scheme was a proposal of some magnitude, but believed that in the interests of the department ancl the town it was worthy of consideration, though I am not surprised that, at the moment it does not appeal to your departmental officers.

“Extremely Disappointed.”

“I was, however, disappointed that, after the considerable time the council’s representatives spent with the department's committee of inquiry, no reference was made to our request that they should submit some proposal which would provide us with a means of obtaining an alternative route, so as to relieve the traffic iu our main street. It was this necessity which induced us to suggest the major proposal, and I felt confident that the officers appreciated the great handicap the town was under, and that they would make some recommendations o.r suggestions which would enable us to provide another crossing at either Anglesea or Ilinemoa Streets. I could not have stressed this phase_ of the matter more and the council is extremely disappointed that no suggestion. has been offered.

“I had hoped that it would have been possible for you to visit Hamilton and to see for yourself the conditions we have to eope with." The Mayer added that when on the spot the railway officers had expressed the view that the scheme could be proceeded with fairly easily. He thought, perhaps, the railway officers had failed to stress this in their report, and the 'Alinister knew very little of the scheme. Futile Deputation. “I would like to protest strongly at the way we have been treated,” declared Cr. R. Cobbe. “We were definitely told that the department w'as going to deviate the railway. At considerable expense a deputation was sent to AVellington—l do not like to say on false pretences —but we were clearly led to believe the department seriously intended to pursue the work.”

The speaker went on to say that a high official of the department had told him that the rumour of the deviation was “all bunkum.” It appeared that the council had simply acted on a series of wild rumours. His Worship replied that the council had not acted on wild rumours. They had it from a very high source that the department was going ahead with the deviation. It was on the suggestion of a leading railway official at Auckland that the council had placed the matter before the Minister, who was very deeply impressed, and called i.t a statesmanlike proposal. “ Hard to Fathom.” “ Like many other things connected, with the Government it is very hare to fathom,” added his Worship. acted on the faith of a high official of the department and now find, we have been misled. The railway officers took a very intelligent view of the situation and seemed to appreciate our difficulties readily and I certainly thought they would do something lo relieve the congestion in our main street.” Cr.'C. Lafferty said he had formed the same impression until he heard a railway official say there was no hope of the' council having the railway bridge and the deviation being made. Cr. Tidd : We know perfectly well why they have done this—simply because "we did not stroke a certain gentleman the right way. (Hear! hear!) Cr. B. H. Andrews : Wire pulling. Without further discussion, the letter was received.