RAILWAY SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 21, 25 January 1924, Page 7

RAILWAY SERVICES.

IMPROVEMENTS WRNTED. DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTER. FROM SWANSON-WAITAKERE RESIDENTS. Deputations representing ratepayers of Swanson and Waitakere were received by the Hon. J. G. Coates. Minister of Railways and Public Works, at the Ministerial rooms, G.P..0. ,this morning. Both, deputations were introduced by the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education. Mr. H. A. Robertson, president of the Swanson Ratepayers' Association, said that there were several matters the deputation wished to bring under the notice of the Minister. One of the most important waa the necessity for enlarging the goodshed, and adding a verandah to the station house- The present position was that on arrival of goods such as flour and sugar, they had to be taken oft" the trucks in any weather, within eight hours or demurrage would be charged. There was no shelter whatever at present and he did not think it fair that consignees had to take charge of goods in wet weather. The station platform required lengthening. It was now equal to only five car lengths, whereas practically all trains comprised eight cars. A more serious matter to residents was the cancelling, for some reason or other by the Railway Department, of the practice of forwarding way-bills with trucks of goods. This has seriously inconvenienced residents because there was j now no method of knowing whether , goods were on the truck unless the truck ! were unloaded. This particularly reI ferred to sugar, and it might be that a , resident would unload a whole truck 1 only to find that the sugar he was exI pecting, had not been forwarded. The ; deputation thought the old practice of I forwarding way-bills should be again instituted. Another matter touched upon was the necessity of an overhead bridge just outside the shunting area at , the station. At present there was a very dangerous crossing, and it was suggested that this should be closed and an overhead traffic bridge erected. The necessity for such work was recognised by the Waitemata County Council, which body had offered to contribute £100 towards the cost of the work, while the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. H. Gunson), had also intimated that the City Council would contribute. The crossing al present was positively dangerous. Mr. Coates: Has an3*one been killed there ? Mr. Robertson replied that fortunately there had not. On the question of roads it was mentioned that the Public Works Department had recently opened a road on the Birdwood estate, and the deputation considered that before the road was j handed over to the Waitemata County Council it should be metalled because it was considered unfair to hand the ro d over in its unmetalled state, which meant that the ratepayers had to provide the cost of metallin-' and tipkeep. Mr. ,T. Rendell, on behalf of re idents at Waitakere, complained that although Waitakere was close to the city and ■within the suburban area it was beyond the pale of the city. What they asked for was a 9 a-m. train leaving Waitakere and that the 5.12 p.m. from Auckland should run to Waitakere and hot only to Swanson, as at present. As matters were now many workers were unable to get 'back from Auckland and had to remain in the city. If the department ran the train to Waitakere there were at least a dozen assured passengers daily, but in order to meet the department the deputation was prepared to pay half the extra cost incurred in continuing the train on from Swaneon. The Minister: We will take your money all right. (Laughter.) Reviewing the matters mentioned by the speakers, the Minister said he realised the vast opportunities for expansion in the north suburban area. At present the list of work to be done in the North Island had been compiled and there was a similar list to be drawn up to cover requirements in the South Island. Then a programme would again be drawn up. The' matter of a goods shed and verandah at Swanson had already been noted and would not be overlooked. When the list was complete a reply would forwarded. On the question of reverting to the system of forwarding way bills he would go into that matter again. All other matters mentioned by the speakers he would get reports upon from the department officers concerned. Mr. Parr, on behalf of the deputation, thanked the Minister and congratulated him upon the good work done by his department during recent months.