The Dominion. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1933. THE WELLINGTON TERMINAL

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 33, 2 November 1933, Page 10

The Dominion. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1933. THE WELLINGTON TERMINAL

Although details have to be finalised in the contract for the new railway station, it may. be assumed that the last stage ? V1 shortly be entered upon in providing Wellington with the efficient transport facilities which her situation and status fully ar rant. P The work has been long delayed but there is compensation . the fact that the various parts fit into a co-ordinated whole which appears to be well designed to serve passenger and freight requiremen s. 1 The immediate undertaking the station building and the reconstruction of the yards. At the same time the Tawa Fat deviat on is approaching completion. It may be hoped that its e r and that of the line to Paekakariki, which has been decided upon, will be finished at the same time as the station so that full use can be made at once of the improved facilities. Another item that should not be overlooked is the bridging of the rail outlet so as to connect Waterloo Quay with the Hutt Road. Economy and efficiency are the main arguments recommending these various interdependent works. Of all of them it can be claimec that they are necessary and that they will yield interest on the capital expenditure involved bv returning considerable savings m working costs. The railway station will be transformed from a double makeshift into a convenient whole. Ingress and egress will be made speedier and more comfortable, with a large saving in haulage costs, by the .deviation. Thus the railway should gain advantage over its competitors in service and cheapness. , . Moreover the new station is well situated, both in respect of sea communications, and of terminal city traffic. The blunder which removed the Auckland passenger station half a mile from the citys centre lias been avoided here. Actually the station has beep brought nearer the centre and is placed in convenient juxtaposition with tram and bus terminals and freight and passenger wharves. A splendid hub for transport will thus be created. . . . These many recommendations are sufficient in themselves to justify the prosecution of the work. Other strong arguments are found in the circumstances of the time. Costs are lower than they have beep for years, epabling the work to be done more cheaply. There is also a considerable contribution to the relief of unemployment. Many men ■ will be employed on a necessary work that will engage their skill arid whose proximity will save many of them from being parted from their families. ' '' ” •

On both economic and social grounds, therefore, the Government deserves credit for pushing on the station contract at this time. It is a pity that more works with such full justification cannot be found. It should be a lesson of the depression that State capital works should be eased up in good times and expedited in bad, thus smoothing out the crest and trough of economic surges.