THE NEW RAILWAY STATION

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 818, 16 May 1910, Page 4

THE NEW RAILWAY STATION

Wellington is usually so very modest in pressing on the Governmont its claims to consideration that it must have been quite as much a surprise as a pleasure to the Pkihe Minister to meet tho largo and representative deputation which waited on him on Friday last to press the necessity for a new railway station building. Apparently the conveners of tho deputation overlooked the local members of Parliament, or tho deputation would have been still more representative. It should not have required any argument to convince: Sir Joseph Ward of the necessity for a now railway station. That has long been recognised. The only question at issue really is: When will tho work be commenced'! Tho Pniiit! Minister vcl 'J" properly permitted tho deputation to see that'tho undertaking is not a light, oue. He quoted figures to show that a great deal of

money must be spent here in improving the railway yards, etc., and in bringing tho local system quite up-to-date. It was, as wo have said, quite proper for him to do this; but tho proposed expenditure really has nothing to do with the question of erecting the railway station. It is tho purchase of the Manawatu Railway Company's line and the huge development of traffic that have necessitated the expenditure on the yards here, and it is of course no favour to Wellington that this work is to be carried out. It will be done simply as a matter of business to enable the Railway Department to copo with tho large and profitable traffic which passes through this centre. The only bearing it has on the railway station matter at all is as to the question of site. This no doubt is involved in the general question of the rearrangement of the yards. It is very surprising to learn, however, that the matter is in so backward a state. We should have imagined that the Department had gone exhaustively into the subject long ago and that the only important issue remaining for settlement was that of ways and means. ; But Sir Joseph Ward, having now intimated his sympathy with the people of Wellington in the inconvenience they have to put up with under existing conditions, will, we trust, give it practical effect by expediting the preparation of the plans and pushing on the work. Wellington is modest in the matter. It does not want anything palatial—it merely wants a railway station that will meet the requirements of the travelling pnblic.