MR, MYERO IN REPLY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1431, 4 May 1912, Page 6

MR, MYERO IN REPLY.

STATION AN URGENT NEED. TO BE BUILT? The Minister, in replying, said that he had gono into tho question of a new station for Wellington, and would deal with it franklv. He could now see the wisdom of making the Minister for Railways also Minister for Finance. As Minister tor Railways, it would pi to liim the greatest possible pleasure lo have hi? naino associated with a new railway station for AVellinstnn, but, as Minister for finance, lie had lo consider the factor nf cost. Mr. Mvers went on i" stale that he inloncleil to'take tho public into'hi? confidence in regard to his intentions. The matter of tho new station hud engaged the attention of hln pvodecowor, Mr. Millar, who had obutaacl CsuwutaaaW tw&k H.

was true, as Mr, Kobei-ison had slated, that, plans had been drawn. A Site Selected, The. right people to decide on fiio allimportant matter of site; lln> Minister remarked, were tliu expert railway ofiicinls. The exports had decided upon a site. Thrir report had not. yet been submitted to Cabinet, but it would be at tlic earliest possible moment. The site proposed for the new terminal railway station was between Fcntheiston Street and Waterloo Quay, facing Bunny Street, and with a. single line connection to To Are station. He was entirely in sympathy with (he desire for a building—this applied to all public buildings—in which the aesthetic sido was not disregarded. A Sungestcd Conference. Before question-: of detail were finally settled there should be- a conference between the city authorities and the Harbour Board. He believed that a town should not be extended in haphazard fashion, but with a view to the future city that was going to b* devcloned around this locality, As a result of such a conference it would probably bo thought desirable to widen Thorndon Quay, ono of the main outlets for the northern traffic of this city. The Proposed Station, It was proposed to make, provision in tho new station for five platforms, two for arriving main lino trains. Theso would have rails on ono Bids only, and a coveied carriage way between them. Tho other tltrco platforms would have rails on both sides, and would accommodate six trains in addition to those at tho main arrival platforms. Thus eight trains could bo dealt with. Two of tho platforms- would bo so arranged as to each provido accommodation for two suburban trains. In this'manner platform accommodation for ten trains could l>o provided. Tho four main platforms would abut upon a main or "concourse" platform. The Minister endorsed Mr. Mabin's suggestion ancnt a co-ordination of the railway and tramway services. Tho Mayor: "That is what we desire." Tho Minister went on to state that he was not prepared, at the present time, to suggest to Cabinet that it should give immediate instructions for the commencement of this (treat undertaking. While ho recognised tho urgency of tho work, he was not prepared to urge Cabinet to put it in hand this year. Demands were being made for largo increases of rolling stock. This had an important .bearing on the industrial life of the people and on tho problem of "speeding up" tho trains. Other demands were being made for cattlo yards, sidings, new branch lines,- weighbridges, sub-ways, and many other matters. It was quite clear to him, as a business man, that he had to se< what was most urgently needed throughout the Dominion.

Back-Block Needs. His sympathies, although be was a city man, lav in tho direction of first granting facilities to tho people in the back-blocks, who, in many eases, had neither roads nor access to' markets. Prominence must bo given to theso needs. Ho believed in a progressive policy, but he had to (leal justly with demands from ail paits °i the Dominion. Tho matter of the Wellington station was not going to be cast asulo at all. It would bavo to be gone into in tlio near future. With that end iu view it was his intention to suggest that two of tho leading railway officers, tho chief engineer, and the chief traffic manager, should bo instructed to proceed to Australia, and possibly even further afield, with a view to collecting necessary information. An Estimate of Cost. The station would probably cost from £350,001) to £400,000. He did not say that it would bo necessary to spend this amount immediately, but even to do justice to tho first part of the scheme would probably involvo an expenditure of £250,000. When the necessary information had beeir obtained plans would bo drawn for ono of the most up-to-date railway stations in Australasia. ■' Immediate Improvements. , In tho meantime, the Minister stated, every facility would be given in regard to improving the present traffic arrangements. Anything that could lie done to remedy' the defects mentioned by Xlr. Fletcher would have tho immediate attention of the general manager. For tho convenience of passengers in stormy weather, the verandah of Thorndon station would bo extended northwards, and Lamb ton station verandah would be extended, at both ends. To relieve congestion at times of holiday traffic machines would bo installed for tho sale of platform tickets, and the number sold would be limited so as to prevent overcrowding. The maintenance shops wore being transferred to Kaiwarra; the work would probably )» finished in about two months time. This would greatly facilitate the unloading of goods* To tho samo end additional sidings would be laid down. The Public Works Department and Postal Department each had a depot in the station yard, but both had been given notice to quit. The clearance would further facilitate the handling of goods. As to what Mr. Bel! had said, the question of party did not enter at all into the administration of the Railway Department.

Mr. Robertson: "Could you not give ns any idea of when you are likely to begin? That would give "us something to think about."

Tho Minister: "I think I have riven you something to think about in indicating tho site of the new station."

Mr. Robertson: "We have had that for a long while. When will it be started ?"

To this the Minister did not reply. Pressed by tho Mayor to say whether the work would bo gone on witli next year, tho Minister stated that ho was not prepared to say '■ anything about' next year until he had had an opportunity cf travelling -throughout the country and seeing what wc-ro tho most urgent works. If he had tho honour to receive another deputation a few months hence ho would then make a deSnito statement.

The Mayor thanked the Minister and the deputation withdrew.