HUTT VALLEY DEVIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 90, 17 April 1925, Page 8

HUTT VALLEY DEVIATION.

• COMPLETED NEXT YEAR. THE BETTERMENT PRINCIPLE. (_y Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The first sod of the Hutt Valley railway deviation was turned this afternoon by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. J. G. Coates. He stated that tho work would be proceeded with immediately, and completed within IS months. The line was being built on the betterment principle, being the first instance in New Zealand in which the Government had purchased the land a line would run through, and it was estimated that the sale of the land at an enhanced value would meet the cost of construction. The Minister also officially switched on Mnngahao power to the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board's station, and unveiled the brass tablet commemorating the event. At a. social function later "Mr. Coates stated that the Railway Board was already speeding up the railway passenger services, and would speed them up still further to meet motor competition. Similar competition regarding goods traffic would be met by linking up roads and railways and inaugurating a system of delivery from city stores '.o settlers' homes in tho out districts. The Minister announced that the new steam-drawn railway car would come into operation at once, nnd make six additional runs in and out. from Welling- ' ton to Hutt, in addition to the existing service. Mr. Coates also stated that in the course of a week or so the Department proposed to begin a new South Island service, cutting down the time of the North-bound express by one hour 13 minutes, and that of the South-bound train by one hour 20 minutes. That for the moment seemed the best that could be done. Other faster services were under consideration.