NO FURTHER ACTION

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13227, 18 August 1943, Page 2

NO FURTHER ACTION

STRAND RAILWAY STATION Agitation For New Site Decision Of Chamber Of Commerce A decision to take no further action in connection with a proposal to agitate for the removal of the Strand railway station to a site opposite the Maori Hostel was made by the Tanranga Chamber of Commerce at -its monthly meeting on Monday evening. At the previous meeting of the chamber when the proposal was first discussed, several members expressed themselves as being in favour of it, and on that occasion it was decided that the Mayor be approached with a request that he call a public meeting for the purpose of giving the residents of Tauranga, generally, the opportunity of expressing their views. At Monday evening’s meeting it was reported by the president (Mr L. E. Woods) that he had approached the Mayor and it was decided that a meeting should be called for last Tuesday. However, that arrangement was cancelled because of the illness of the Mayor. Since then he had had a visit from the Railways District Traffic Manager and the Commercial Agent, and together they had a look at the proposed new site. The District Traffic Manager did not appear to be very sympathetic with the proposal. He pointed out that the plans for the shelter at the station had been approved by his department, and it was proposed to get I usy with the job as soon as possible.

Mr Woods added that in his opinion the Mayor should again he approached and asked to call a meeting as soon as possible, to give the citizens an opportunity of expressing their views. Unless something was done immediately they would be left behind.

Mr F. N. Christian suggested calling a meeting next Monday night. Personally, the proposal did not affect him greatly, but he would say that the citizens should have some say. On the other hand, he would not like to do anything that would hold up the carrying out of the necessary improvements at the station.

It was stated by Mr A. W. Jackson that he had had a talk with the District Traffic Manager, whose view was that, as the plans for the shelter had been approved, he would not like to see the work held up by anything in the nature of a controversy. Mr W. G. Jaeger expressed the opinion that a traffic bottleneck might be created by shifting the station, and he did not think, therefore, that the proposal was worth persevering with. The president circulated among members a plan showing the proposal, stating that provision had been made for adequately dealing with the tiaffic. He stated that the only real objection the District Traffic Manager had to the proposed site was that it was nearer the main station, and that the train would no sooner get. started than they would have to stop again. It was then pointed out to him that the difference was only seven chains. The District Traffic Manager then stated that he did not want to see the improvements to the Strand platform held up. The proposal should, added the president, be kept in view as a future improvement to the town. By agitating for it now, it might be that the erection of the much-needed shelter was held up.

Mr T. D Harvey said the danger as he saw it was that if a shelter were erected it might grow, and that it would not be long before it stretched for a considerable distance along the Strand. He would not like to see that.

At this stage Air Christian moved that no action he taken, the motion being seconded by Mr R. R. O’Hara. Mr Dervan moved an amendment that the Mayor be approached and asked to call a meeting, and that if the Mayor is unable to do so that a meeting be held under the auspices of the chamber.

The amendment, which was seconded by Mr J. C. Tennent. was lost, the motion being carried.