Evening Post. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1892. THE TE ARO RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Evening Post, Volume XLIII, Issue 63, 15 March 1892, Page 2

Evening Po st. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1892. THE TE ARO RAILWAY EXTENSION.

* We regret to learn that tho Railway Commissioners have taken up an attitude of stubborn opposition to the Te Aro Eailway extension being used for goods traffic. They have submitted to the Hon. Minister for Public Works plans for a terminal station at Te Aro in which two passenger platforms are provided and every provision is made for the convenience of passengers, the Commissioners, who at first urged the construction of a mere tramway, now admitting that two thirds at least of the Wellington passenger traffic will be to or from the

terminal station. No provision, Lowever, is made in this plan for any goods traffic, and on the Minister of Public Works pointing out the_ omission the Commissioners informed him that they eonsidorcd it absurd that any such provi-ion should be made. They asserted that the present station accommodation at Thorndon was sufficient for all the goods traffic likely to ari.se for many years to come, and that they would be no parties to carrying 1 on any portion of this traffic to Te Aro. Mr. Seddon replied that in his opinion it was essential that provision for goods traffic should be made at the terminal station, and that Parliament had authorised the work and voted the money on the distinct understanding that both goods and passenger traffic should be provided for on the extension. This determination he felt bound to give effect to, and he therefore asked the Commissioners to supply plans showing what would be required for goods traffic. As the Commissioners still demurred, Mr. Seddon put it to them that surely be had the right to ask them for plans of the accommodation he deemed essential, and which he was prepared to carry ont on his own responsibility. They might make what report they liked on the plans, and what they were intended to provide for, but if they still refused, he would bo compelled to obtain and carry out the necessary plans without further reference to them, and altogether on his own responsibility. The Commissioners retorted that, although they might not be able to prevent his doing this, they could not bo compelled to use the accommodation when provided. Mr. Seddon suggested that they •would scarcely be able to withstand the force of public opinion on the matter, and that Parliament could require them to carry out its will. lie also intimated that if further space wero required at tho terminus, he might be able to provide what was required by additional reclamation. What he wanted from them were plans of what would be required to provide for goods traffic. The result of. the conference, which was held yesterday morning, was that the Commismissioners appeared more inclined to furnish Mr. Seddon with tho plans and information required than thoy were at first, but they were unyielding in their opposition to any goods traffic at Te Aro. We greatly regret that the Commissioners should have assumed such a position. It is one utterly untenable, and they will undoubtedly be compelled to recede from it. Thoy had better do so gracefully and graciously, without waiting for the Parliamentary pressure which would result from the force of public opinion. As a mere passenger convenience the extension to Te Aro will not confor tho advantages on the City which Parliament intended aud tho public have a right to expect. The wool traffic and certain other descriptions will still naturally centro at Thorndon, but for tho general goods, timber and firewood traffic, To Aro is the natural and proper depot. By far tho larger proportion of the timber and firewood brought into the City is used or consumed at the To Aro end of the City. It is absurd to contend that this traffic should be cartborne along the streets from Thorndon to To Aro while a railway runs alongside. Even if some of the shed and yard accommodation now provided at Thorndon is rendered for a time unnecessary, the loss will not be a very great one, and tho day is not far distant when the traffic will demand not only all the present accommodation at Thorndon, but also all that it is proposed to supply at To Aro. Tho Minister of Public Works is acting wisely in insisting that the goods traffic shall be carried to Te Aro, so far as the requirements of trade demands it, and ho is acting generously on tho part of tho Government in offering to provido the necessary station accommodation, and to, if necessary, enlarge the Btation area by further reclamation. It is much to be regretted that the Commissioners should seek to nrn counter to Mr. Seddon's good intention, and render them of non-effect. Public opinion in Wellington will be found very strong on this point, and it is altogether in accord with common seuse and business principles. Mr. Seddon is quite willing to take tho responsibility of making tho required provision, and it is monstrous that the Commissioners should say to him " you may provide accommodation for goods traffic, but wo shall not use it." They will err greatly, and weaken their own general position and influence most lamentably, if thoy persist in giving a new illustration of this sort to the proverb about tho ease with which a horse may be taken to the water, but the impossibility of making him drink. Thoy will find that powerful as they aro, means can bo found to compel them to utilise for the public benofit the facilities for goods traffic which Mr. Seddon is properly determined shall be provided. We strongly advise the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council to express their views to the Commissioners on the point at issue. The Chamber of Commerce should do so as the representative of the mercantile interests, which will be so much benefited by the oxtension of goods traffic to Te Aro, and the City Council has a direot interest in the matter, not only as the guardian of the welfare of the city and its inhabitants generally, but also because tho utilisation of the railway for heavy goods traffic will relieve the streets between Thorndon and Te Aro of a traffic which is very destructive to them, and which it must cost a largo sum annually to provide for.