THE MINISTER IN NORTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14659, 7 May 1913, Page 12

THE MINISTER IN NORTH CANTERBURY.

VARIOUS WANTS OF VAItiOUS

PLACES

JBT OUR SPECIAL REPORTED.)

WAIAU, May 6

The Minister for Railways (the Hon. W. H. Hcrries) and railway officials, yesterday visited the North Canterbury district, by special train. In the morning progress was made as far as iar- Jnassus, while in tho afternoon attention was turned to tho Culverden branch, and tho evening spent at Waiau, where the Minister was entertained by tho Railway League, and received deputations in respect of its wants. Messrs. G. W. Forbes, G. Witty, and W. Mosworthy, M.P.'s, accompanied tho party. WAYSIDE WANTS. Tho first deputation that approached :he Minister was at Belfast, where representatives of the Freezing Company and of tho farmers of tho district. asked for better means of access to tho goods-shed from tho eastern side. It was pointed out that a gate and a jhort length of roadway would cave tho farmers a circuit of from throe nm! a half to four miles. The Minister inspected tho site of the proposed improvement, and suggested that a- petition from those affected should bo prepared and presented. .\lrG. Witty, M.P., introduced this deputation on behalf of the Hon. l>. Buddo.

At Scfton a deputation asked that the platform should be raised and lengthened, and also that tho Post Office should bo connected with the telephone system. Mr Hemes said, that he would ask for an estimate about tho platform -md speak to Mr Rhodes about the telephone. . FASTER SERVICES. At Mina Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P. tor tho district, welcomed Mr Herries, and introduced several deputations. Mho chairman of the Cheviot County Council, Mr T. Gco, said that it took, under ordinary circumstances, three days tor them to visit Christchurch. Until recently a train had run down and back on Wednesdays, and it was asked that this should bo resumed. Those who used the Wednesday train were chiefly farmers who had consigned sheep to the markets on Tuesday, and this should be taken into consideration. They believod the line did pay throughout the year. The Department's figures showed that 203,268 sheep were trucked last year. Ho would ask that tho speed of tho train should bo increased to thirty miles an hour. That would save time, and perhaps enablo one train to do the work two did at present. IF bettor train facilities wore not given farmers would, perhaps, be obliged to resort to motor-cars. The line was a main one, and their request should be held to bo a reasonable one.

Mr "Robinson suggested that the early morning train, if resumed, should start from Parnassus.

Mr Forbes said that the method of working tho lino could be vastly improved. Tho Minister, in reply, said ho could not do anything in the winter time, but what had been eaid would be borne in mind in dealing with the time schedule next summer. Tho points about tho two trains would be noted, and if it was possible to give them a Rood service, consistent with profit, ho would endeavour to give it. He did not know whore the speeding-up could bo done, because he had noticed some very sharp curves along the lino which had to be taken dowly. Speeding-up all over Now Zealand was a difficult matter, because it .t meant the dropping of stations there K-ere complaints. He could not see how rt could all. be done: A deputation at Scargill made the same request for a faster service.

SPECIAL TRAIN'S. On behalf of tho A. and P. Associatioiij Mr T. Gee mentioned tho system of special trains to country shows. The local Association, he said, was required to give a guarantee of £52 odd. If tho bookings exceeded this, it" was all well and good; but if there was a loss the Association was required to pay up * What they asked was that the profits mado in good years should stand as a set-off against losses in bad years, occasioned by bad weather. It was hard upon a country show, which was endeavouring to help tho country along!, to meet losses caused by bad weather. . ■ In reply, M.r Hemes said tho request was a very large order, because stjch a concession must apply not only to show trains but to race trains, and all special trains right through the Dominion. Ho was afraid ho could rr.afee no alteration in a long-standing (system without very carefully going into the whole matter.

THE TERMINUS. All the way up the line the weather bad been glorious, and at Parnassus, the present terminus of tho Main Trunk lino, the country was to bo seen to distinct advantage. Mr Forbes pointed out to tho Minister where the tine in the future would penetrate the hills ahead, and told him that the formation' work for some five miles on was completed. His enquiry, however, about the future of tn& lino drew pretty much of a blank, for Mr Herries oould only say that that was in tho hands of Mr Fraser, Minister of Public Works. . .

This district has great grain-growing possibilities before, it, but has been a little cut off from outside districts by the difficulty of getting traction engines for thrashing purposes across the Waiau. A couple of settlors with crops still to thresh, asked the Minister to allow them to bring an engine over tho railway bridge- This i-equest the Minister granted, with tho condition that the work be done but once a year under the direction of the THstrict Engineer. , On the return journey and the run to Waiau, tho weather changed back t<» wet. At Scargill, a deputation, besides drawing attention to the railway and a. faster service, mentioned the matter of the railway charge of a rate and a half on imported coal and timber. This, it was stated, penalised the country *is against the town. In reply, tho Minister said that this question was already marked for consideration when the- Customs tariff was reviewed: THE WAIAU RAILWAY.

At "Waiau Mr G. AY. Forbes introduced a large deputation tho Waiau Bailway League to urgo that tho lino should be prosecuted. Mr K. Pettigrew, president of the League, said he desired to make an earnest appeal to the Government to canstruot this line as speedily as possible. The lino had been expected for the last thirty years, but year by year hope had been deferred. Last year there had been an authorisation, wiuch had beea much appreciated by the settlers. The delay of year after year ate into the soul of the settlers, who were the children of tho State. The district was a promising one, but could not develop ite possibilities properly without a railway. 2fow that tho line had Seen authorised, a vote was wanted for construction purposes as rooh as possible. Mr T. Beaven stated that the line to Culverden had beea opened for twenty-five years. Then there was very Bttle population north of Amberley, but because of the line, the population had since been flowing northwards and opening up the land. If the line could bo extended to Waiau, it would servo 36.000 acres, the

greater part of which could bo used I tor cropping purposes. The district j could compare -with any other part for its production in cither grain or stock. At present, some 30,000 fat sheep were turned out per year. To drive these sheop meant a deterioration in quality, which amounted to about £1000 a year. The line, moreover, would increase the vaiue of Government holdings. Since he came there, about L'-j years a;;o, some 72,000 acres had been opened up between Culvorden ami Waiau, and he contended that if one man had owned this it would have paid him to pay tho £35.000 necessary, for the construction of the line. It would not mean any additional locomotive demands, for the present time-table could easily bo used. Mr E. Rinaldi put the case from the farmers' point of view with small holdings. It was better for them to grow grain than sheep, but tho heavy charges for transit from Culverden operated a s a great tax upon their progress, and -upon tho use of tho Jand. The children, locally, could secure practically only a primary education, whereas a railway would enable them to secure a secondary edhcation. Mr M'A.ssey had seen the district, and been convinced of its advantages, and supported the deputation to Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Allen also had been convinced of tho advantages of tho district. Mr S. Baker read a number of letters from Christchurch public men, supporting the line. .Messrs A. Kayo, R. Hill Fisher, T. H. Davey, M.P.. and Geo. Slicat, tho Horn. 11. F. Wigram. and J. Anstcy, wore among those who wrote sympathetically. The' Hon. R. McKenzie' and Mr W. l>. S. Mac Donald had also supported the scheme, as well as the, Hon. W. BallJones, seven years ago. The settlers felt tho line had been promised, and now it was little wonder if they felt a little impatient.

THE MINISTER'S REPLY. In reply, the Minister thanked the settlers for the kindly welcome extended to him in every wny. Naturally, they wanted tf> know about the railway. He had been in a similar position himself, as when he oanie out, thirty-two years ago, a railway was promised in his district, but he had had to wait ten nr twelve years for it. A Voice: We've waited twelve,, (Laughter.) He was unable to say if- the lino would bo proceeded with this year, bub lie believed he could say tluit the authorised lines would receive over those that were unauthorised. (Applause.) He had to confess ■ that the country ho had seen that day had impressed him very much. He believed that this line, if money were available, would give payable returns. As a railwayman, hoover, he would like to know what back freight would come up the line. (Vqicos: Manure and coal.) He would recommend them to secure figures on that point. Ho could not say till Mr Allen returned, how much the nest loan would be, or how much would be .available for lines. Tho Government was desirous of opening up the back-blocks, and anything he could do to advocate the claims o! such lines would fro done

Mr Forbes thanked the Minister foJ the courteous answer given tho deptt' tation.