RAILWAY ROUTE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 194, 14 May 1936, Page 11

RAILWAY ROUTE

Rimutaka Deviation Wanted WAIRARAPA’S CLAIMS Conference Urges Action By Government Dominion Special Service. Mastertoil, May 13. The large gathering of representattves of local bodies throughout the Wairarapa who attended a conference to-day convened by the Chamber of Commerce to discuss railway communication with Wellington, unanimously supported the following motion moved by the Mayor of Masterton, Mr. T. Jordan : “That as soon as can be arranged a deputation representing the whole of this district wait on the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Railways and the Minister of Public'Works, to press the claims of this district to have the Rimutaka deviation put in hand at the earliest moment.” Among the gathering were representatives of the Railways Department. Apologies were received from Mr. T. R. Barren, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. G. 11. Mackley, General Manager of Railways, Sir Alfred Ransom and Mr. J. W. Card,Mayor of Featherston. The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. B. Wood, ventured the opinion that the present Government would take the matter up, and said that although the rail-cars would relieve the position somewhat, a great amount of heavy traffic was forced upon the road on account of the present railway position, and that must be a great burden on the local authorities. Mr. Jordan: Hear, hear. Continuing, the chairman said he thought the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, because of his knowledge of the work, would lint his staff on the job as soon as possible for the benefit of the district. He referred to the small increase,in population as revealed by the census, and said that fact in itself called for better means of transport. Change of Outlook. Mr. Jordan remarked that the former Government had been approached to put through the deviation of the Rimutaka railway, but nothing had come of it. Since then, however, there had been a change of Government and, he thought, a change of outlook. Use should bo made of the unemployed to push through the scheme, and the present Government was out to provide work that would be a potential asset to the country. Mr. Jordan said he did not measure the railways by profit and loss, and remarked that they played an important part in the development of the country. “Are wc satisfied with this district’s development?” he asked. “Look at the census and you will get the answer.” Since the opening of the Government’s regime another change had come on, in that the East Coast railway was being completed, “It seems to me it should come this way,” Mr. Jordan continued, “and is it to be brought over the Rimutakas in the present fashion? Surely not. If we can get improved communication, preferably on the flat, this district will wake, up and be openedjip. A good deal of this heavy traffic which is tearing our roads to bits and emptying the pockets of the people will go back to its legitimate quarter, the rail.” Mr. j. Robertson, Al.l’. for Masterten, reminded the conference that the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates’when Minister of Railways in 1924 had allocated a sum. of money for the Rimutaka deviation, which showed that at that time he considered the work necessary. The difficulty with rail communication in New Zealand in the past was the necessity of providing mixed trains, which meant that they were not a satisfactory passenger service or goods service. He assured the conference of his support. “To my mind,” said Mr. B. Roberts, M.P. for Wairarapa, “there are two aspects of the question, the short view and the long view.” . Taking the short view, it could be said that the Wairarapa was to be served with rail-cars and that there was a good road over the hill, but was the country going to be satisfied with a small population? He said he thought something should be done to stimulate population, and that better communication with the main centres was necessary. Some of the Difficulties. Mr. A. W. Wellsted, commercial manager of the Railways Department, said he thought it might be advantageous if some of the difficulties of transport were touched on. The general manager had been in Masterton twice in the last 12 months, dealing with both passenger and goods transport, but the deviation had not been mentioned. He considered the difficulties of the people in the Wairarapa would disappear with the rail-cars, which would save about an hour and a quarter between Masterton and Wellington. There had been a serious falling off in railway revenue in the Wairarapa, and the question was, would the deviation give the department the lost merchandise traffic back? Ho knew at the present time the lorries were making several trips daily over the Rimutakas, and asked if the deviation would enable 111 e railways to handle that traffic instead. Mr. Wellsted referred to the reductions that had been made in freight charges, but notwithstanding that, a number of woolclips were still going by road. Touching on the East Coast traffic, he said it would be more economical to take goods through Palmerston North than through the Wairarapa. Mr. Jordan: That is on a mere mileage, though. Mr. Wellsted: Yes. Lengthy discussion ensued when the motion was moved by Mr. Jordan. Support for it was expressed by Mr. W. Simpson, Mayor of Eketahuna, Mr. Cheetham. Mauriceville county, Mr. J. Carne Bidwill, Featherston county, and Mr. W. Fisher, Mayor of Carterton. Mr. Jordan pointed out that four or five million pounds was being spent on the unemployed men, but what had been done I hat was comparable to the Rimutaka deviation? It would not he committing the country to more expenditure, but would be making sensible use of the money that was available. The provincial president of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. Hugh Morrison, urged that there should be a better traek. Owing to the hill there was a considerable amount of congestion with heavy transport, and a straight run through would prevent that. He said he thought the scheme would be one of the most beneficial things in New Zealand. Mr. J. D. Wilson, Pahiatua, said that from Pahiatua right through the deviation would be one of immense benefit. Mr. Wellsted had made the suggestion that the rail-cars would confer a benefit, hut with the rail-enr as well os the deviation, would not a greater benefit be conferred? he asked. Therefore, he did not think the rail car need be brought into the question at all. , . L Mr. 11. Bennett. Casllepoint. said the lust Government mid admitted the work was essential, and Im agreed that unemployed money should be spent on useful work. “This work should have been done ten

years ago, aud then the district would have been in a better position than it is in to-day,” said Mr. W. Benton, Featherston borough. Chambers Support. Mr. Duncan McGregor, Wairarapa South County Council, said he thought the resolution was justified, but he wanted to know if the chamber of commerce would support the railways if the deviation went through. In reply Mr. Wood said the chamber would be behind the railways in the scheme provided the railways could give us the goods.” Mr. J. B. Carruthers, Eketahuna county, said Eketahuna’s chief interest was heavy transport, and naturally that should go to the country’s rail. Mr. A. J. McCurdy, Mayor of Upper Hutt, spoke in favour of the suggestions made by the late Mr. Fulton, former engineer of the Manawatu company, and he criticised Mr. Furkert’s scheme. In Mr. Fulton’s scheme, which was not elaborated, the distance between Upper Hutt and Cross Creek by direct tunnel xvas six and a half miles, and the grade was easier than Mr. Furkert’s. If Mr. Fulton’s suggestion was carried out, the run from Upper Hutt to Featherston would be 28 minutes, as against more than two hours at present. Mr. I*. R. Welsh, Masterton county, and Mr. A. W. Horton, Mayor of Greytown, supported the deviation scheme. Air. L. T. Daniell, Wairarapa Farmers’ Union, said he did not know yet whether the Railway Department wanted the deviation. He would favour the motion, but he would like to see the conference get further on side with the department, which had to be convinced. Mr. G. L. Thomas, Wairarapa .Carriers’ Association, said the association were loyal supporters of the railways and he would support the resolution. The deviation should interest the department equally as much as the district, said Air. E. Al. Hodder, chamber of commerce.

Air. Robertson said the of Transport was determined to give New Zealand a thorough transport service. Railway services had got to be made efficient, and there was no one more determined to do that than the Alinister of Railways. Because of the way it had been allowed to drift, transport to-day was a tremendous problem to be faced. There had been a suggestion that the work should be done out of unemployment funds, but lie could assure the coufereneo that that would not be the case. After the motion bad been carried unanimously, it was agreed that Mr. Roberts and Mr. Robertson should arrange for a deputation to the Government.