TE ARO RAILWAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1796, 8 July 1913, Page 9

TE ARO RAILWAY.

INTERESTING DEBATE,

QUESTION OF EXPANSION.

An interesting debate,, under the auspices of the Greater Wellington Municipal Electors' Association, on the question as to whether or not railway facilities should bo expanded at the To Aro railway station, was held last night, Mr. H. G. Hill, vice-president of the association, presided, and there was an attendance of about twenty. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt took the affirmative, and Messrs. H. H. Cornish and 0. C. Mazengarb the negative, as to whether it was in the best interests of the city—"(l) That the l'e Aro railway station should have accommodation for goods traffic and also that the passenger service should be extended; and (2) that the Eailway Department and the Harbour Hoard should at onco make provision whereby the railway passengers can bo transferred direct from "the train to the ferry steamers, viz., at the proposed To Aro Wharf."

Mr. Hunt said lie thought It would bo generally admitted that all transport facilities owned by the people 6hould be of the greatest benefit to the greatest number. If that be so, the transport facilities should bo in tho centre of the city. His idea was that the centre of the city was near tho Basin Reserve, but it would shift southwards. In the northern portion thore were some 5000 houses, and tho northern district was almost fuly built upon. In tho eouth there wore 11,000 houses, but the south and the south-east were capable of enormous expansion. Touching on the traffic aspect titbt, Mr. Hunt said that all the goods were at present dumped down at the old ilanawatu station, and the outward goods left from Lambton. Their methods were antiquated, notwithstanding that they had a railway line running through the city. The question of cartage was a serious matter. The cost of cartage contributed greatly to tho high cost of living. They had a remedy by bringing the traffic through to Te Aro. They were told that by so doing congestion would result on Jervois Quay, 110 took the view that if goods were not brought to Te Aro there would result great congestion at Jervois Quay in tne future. If a goods shed were established at To Aro it would bo a great convenience to a large number of the community. The question of danger was advanced against the proposal, but only one fatal accident had occurred on the line in the past twenty years. Consider the Merchants. If the merchants at Te Aro were to bo treated on the same fair basis as merchants in tho northern end, there would have to be a goods shed at T© Aro. Tho city would also be saved an immense amount in tho upkeep of the streets by having the goods taken by rail to Te Aro, instead of by carriers. This question should bo seriously considered by the City Council. Four points had been put forward in opposition to tho proposal, namely—Ncdse 0 danger and congestion, delay, and insufficiency of traffic. Mr. Hunt dealt fully with these questions, and in respect to tho latter quoted from tho Hon. w. H. Horrie3 (Minister for Railways) to tho effect that those advocating the scheme had a very good case.

Coming to the question, of passenger traffic, Mr. Hunt said that as the city went further south tho terminal nt To Aro would be of greater value. In the past tho trouble had been that tho people did not know which trains started from To Aro. Further, the Eailway Department wore to blamo for not having through trains patronised, bcoauso they kept tho trains waiting at Lambton for 15 or 20 minutes. That tho peoplo appreciated the trains runing to To Aro was to be seen on race days. Bailway facilities to conueot with tho ferry service wore next dealt with by Mr. Hunt, who said it -was a scandal that nothing had bean done in this respect. Be had repeatedly asked l the Harbour Board for an outline of their views on. the matter, but could get no satisfaction. In tho past Mr. Jlarohbaniß, engineer for the board, had advocated running a connection to tho ferry service. The ■ proposed To Ato wharf would lie the only point at which this could be done with convenience. If the railway traffic was developed at Te Aro, tho Harbour Board's land behind tho station would be very considerably enhanoed in value, and they should not complain when a proposal was put forward to take some of their reclaimed land for railway purposes.

, Stop the Loss. They wcro told that the railwav to' Te Aro was losing .£SOOO a year. I*he present loss had to be stopped, and the only way to do it was to givo tho railway more traffic. (Applause.) Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, speaking in the negative to the question, differed with Mr. Hunt as to the centro of the city. The centre of a city for business purposes was not To Aro. While the residential portion of the city was spreading to the south, tho business portion was spreading to the north. Mr. Mazengarb defended the Harbour Board's action in wanting to retain their reelatffied land. Tho value of the land was sure to increase—unless its usefulness was out off by the erection of a To Aro goods shed. Tho Harbour Board's revenue was liable to fluctuate, through causes outside the oontrol of New Zealand, and unless they had some means to fall back on for obtaining revenue, the port charges would have to bo 1 increased; and trade would be deflected to other ports. There waa no need for the passenger trains to To Aro, went on tho speaker. A week ago he watched one train arrive. Three men came out of it—two from the engine, and tho guard. (Laughter.) Tho Minister for Railways had given way to the To Aro Eailway League's application, and put on extra trains to Te Aro, but had to take them off. He (tho speaker) asked: Would Mr. Hunt bo prepared to accept the unbiased opinion of the Departmental heads of the Eailway Department? Town-Plannino Aroument. The brealdng-up of trains was another point advanced against the scheme by the speaker. Ho also considered the townplanning argument was against the Te Aro proposal. If the residential centro was tending that way, it was not advisable to have a goods shed there. Tho passenger traffic to Te Aro would be against tho tramway interests, and therefore against the city's interests. The trams could also be utilised to a greater extent for taking goods to Te Aro, for the business there was largely retail. The second proposition was not dealt with nt any longth. The speaker considered it would inconvenience the greater number of passengers if they had to go to To Aro to embark on the ferry boats. Tho Harbour Board could derive no benefit through having the ferry boats leaving from Te Ato. Yet they wero asked to spend about ,£BO,OOO to build a wharf. Concluding, Mr. Mazengarb said that if a doubtful suburban scheme was carried out at tho national expense, it would not lie in tho best interests of the country or tho city. Mr. H. H. Cornish 6eoonded Mr. Mazencarb's remarks, and other speakers wero Messrs. F. A. Townsend. ,T. D. S'ievwritfht, F. G. Bolton, Georgo Winder, and others. The principal speakers briefly replied, and the meeting concluded with a voto of thanks to the chairman and speakers.