CROSSINGS WITHOUT KEEPERS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1029, 19 January 1911, Page 3

CROSSINGS WITHOUT KEEPERS

LOOKIKG- TO THE FUTURE. A question of greater importance than appears on the surface, because of its application to the whole of New Zealand, was involved in the request of a deputation from tho Onslow Borough Council to the .Minister for Railways (the Hen. J. A. Millar) yesterday. Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., introduced ■ the deputation. Ho said the chief request was that the gates across the roadway at Khandallah should not be closed at 5 o'clock each evening. He nlso urged that the station there bo brought up-to-date, and rendered more in keeping with the importance of the-place. Mr. Lynneberg (Acting-Mayor of Onslow) said the closing of the traffic gates on 'the cast sido of tho railway after 5 o'clock caused great inconvenience. It was impossible to-tako luggage through tho small ; passenger gate, lor instance, or perambulators, and it meant a circuitous journey "round'of about threequarttrs of" a mile. Sunday also, saw the gates closed. It' had been suggested that if the council l'oun'd the money'tho Department ■ would put in cattle' slops, but they had not any money to expend legally on private property, as would be the case in this'instance if the "stops" were, to be crcctcd in a' placc that would make them of any use.

Tho Minister thought this could be done, as property could be acquired to render the work a public one. Jlr. Lynneberg: Wonld .it be possible for tho Department to put in cattle stops, or else extend tho hour : at which the gates were closed? Tho train that was' used mostly by the residents who shopped ill toiVn arrived at) Khandallah at 5.15 p.m., and tho gates when they got in were closed.

The Minister/said .it was not these people who would have heavy luggage, and consequently requiro tho gates open. Ho suggested that the council form a small picco of road, and they could easily then connect up with tho-main road.

Speaking of the principle of the 1 thing, the Minister said that jury ridel's were constantly being passed .'urging more precautions on tho railways, and hero was a deputation asking.him to add-to tho risks of traffic. A regular night service was now being run,, and without a' mall to attend to the gato it would be dangnous to leave it open. Cattlo would jeopardise the lives of passengers. If tho council would pay JMO towards' making cattlo stops then the matter could be fixed up satisfactorily. -

■ Speaking still further, the Minister said.he.must protect the public, and ho was not preparotl to pay .£l3O a year for a crossiiig-kooper on a privatd way, as would be necessary if the gate were left open. If it were not closed at 5 p.m., overtime would have to be paid. The point was that this was only one of many crossings. Tho position at Christchurch and Palmerston North was worse. Tho Department would not, in . any: part of New Zealand, turn a private into a public crossing at their own expense. Ten trains were now running «ver the lino. to ono in the daj-s of tho Manawatu Company.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. W. Rimmer.—Yes; Monday will be observed as a close holiday by all shopkeepers. L. 1,. Smith.—(l) A census will be taken this year. (2) During the winter.