WAIUKU RAILWAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 209, 4 September 1929, Page 8

WAIUKU RAILWAY.

LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT.

RESIDENTS; CONCERNED.

PUBLIC MEETING PROPOSED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WAIUKU, Tuesday. Messrs. Harcombe and C. L Harkness president and secretary respectively ot the Waiuku branch of the Farmers Union, waited as a deputation upon the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the lack of support accorded the local rail-

Mr. Harcombe stated that it was dis-c,-editable for anyone to ™ !S iay ;«?ic y «»•«- fold —first the fares, secondly Ith « tenanco of roads, and thndly on the railway. He appealed to the Chamber of Commerce to gne the x way its support by endeavoiuing e the business people to patronise 1 . Mr. Harkness pointed out the great benefits derived by the farmers from thp railway in the carrying of liea\y O oods, such as manures. The union been idle in connection with the lailway and had already had threc Ministeis the Crown visit the district. Hie Mm ister of Lands had stated tlia,t would be done towards discontinuing the railway at present, but he considered that if the residents wished to keep it they should show their apprcfciation by giving it their support. Mr. J. D. Chalmers, in welcoming the deputation, mentioned that he had had considerable worry over the railway, first in asissting to get it, and secondly in endeavouring to keep it. He considered that the railway should be brought more up-to-date so as to cope with the requirements of the travelling public. Mr. Duthie said that for the past four years the chamber had been fighting for the railway, and on several occasions had prominent railway officials present at meetings, when the matters of tariffs and time-tables had been discussed. Some of the suggestions had been adopted by the Department, but a lot had been let slide. Twelve months ago the chamber had petitioned the business people to support tlio railway, and the majority had signed the petition. Many of the farmers themselves were to blame for the position of the railway, as if any of tlio commodities required by tliem were a little cheaper in Auckland they got their requirements direct. Mr. Duthie asked the deputation whether, if the chamber supported a resolution that all passengers travel and goods be brought in by the railway, the Farmers' Union would pass a similar resolution that the farmers would support the local trades people. Mr. Harkness: Most of them do. Mr. Duthie: The same applies to the business people. (Laughter.) Mr. Makgill declared that the main trouble with the railway was the high freights and the poor service given. Mr. W. J. Staunton, the local stationmaster, thanked the chamber and the Farmers' Union for the keen interest taken in the railway, and mentioned the many benefits to be derived from it. He said that the general goods carried 011 the lino only averaged six tons a week apart from heavy freights. The passengers averaged six a day, and there was a loss of £10,000 last year. The railway officials operating the line were paid approximately £2000 a year. It was finally resolved that a public meeting to discuss railway matters should be called. An effort will be made to have prominent railway officials present at the meeting.