Rimutaka Deviation

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 199, 20 May 1936, Page 5

Rimutaka Deviation

| Sir, —I am sure that every person living in the Wairarapa fully realises that the time taken for transit to Wellington by the present railway route is a distinct handicap to progress in the Wairarapa. But surely this question must be regarded from a national aspect, since, I presume, the whole country will be called upon to pay for it. While agreeing with the Upper Wairarapa that their need is great, the following aspects must not be overlooked :— 1. Rail-cars are to be put into use, and this will speed up the passenger transit, saving approximately one and a quarter hours between Jlasterton and Wellington. ' 2. What guarantee can the Upper Wairarapa give that the proposed deviation will bring back to the railways the goods traffic that is at present going by road? 3. In the .South Wairarapa there are thousands of acres of fertile country which are extremely expensive to work at the, present time, owing to heavy cartage costs, to and from the rail-bead and over the Rimutaka incline. * If these thousands of acres can be brought into a more productive state, the whole country must eventually benefit: and quicker and better railway facilities are a very big feature in the improvement of the land. The land, and what it will produce, is our only real national asset, therefore, surely, if our money is Io be spent, it should be isjient in the most reproductive manner possible, that: is. in the opening-up of good, fertile land, which is at present isolated, and heavily handicapped for this reason.—l am. etc., OPEN UP. Featherston, May IS.