RAILWAYS IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 36, 12 February 1925, Page 5

RAILWAYS IN THE NORTH.

THE DISTRICT MANAGER. PROTEST AGAINST EEMOVAJj. i' (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ' WHANGAREI, this day. ' The Whangarei Chamber of Commerce meeting last night voiced a strong protest, which is to be forwarded to the Minister of Railways, against the proposed removal of the dietrict mana» gor, also the engineer, from Whangarei. It was slated that the matter had already been taken up by Mr. A. J. Murdoch, M.P. It was pointed out that new ollices were recently completed at expense. While the chamber could not dictate to the Railway Department how the business should bo run, it was felt that the removal of these important officers to Auckland was following » process of centralisation which would not be conducive to the interest of the district. The chambers opinion was that it was not possible dur-r.g the Hying visit made by the Railway Commissioners for them to ascertain the actual position. It should bo realised that the New Zealand railways were a different proposition to the English, and tne matter should be further gone into before the olliec of the district manager in the north is abolished, the Minister of Railways using his own judgment. That the North Auckland railway be! extended from Ramrfhua to without which the resources of the district could not be properly developed, was the substance of a petition promoted by the Kaitaia Chamber of Commerce. When considering this at thei meeting last night the Wliangarei chamber was fully in. accord, a.nd decided to co-operate by signing the peti» tion, and also to take steps to get the petitions v.idcly signed by the public. Other chambers of commerce in the North are to be invited by the, Whangarei chamber to give their wholehearted support.