WELLINGTON INTERESTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 6

WELLINGTON INTERESTS.

Several organisations, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Association, and the Shopkeepers' Association, undertake to have a care for Wellington's interests while safeguarding their own, and they can all point to some good service. The most powerful body of the group ia the Chamber of Commerce, which has a, wide sphere of activity, ranging from the proposed new railway station to the interrupted dock, and from school prizes to Customs tariff. Ifc is tho tradition of these chambevs to have a vision which overlooks nothing of importance to a city, and this vigilance is valuable, not only for what it may achieve but more for the stimulating effect which it can have on any inert public. The task of "hustling" I for benefits, to be enjoyed by the many, is frequently left to the few. Wellington people have calmly tolerated much that might have caused some ferment in Auckland or Christchurch, but all have not been listless. The Chamber of Commerce has been watching the railway station, the Hutt railway duplication, the restriction of the suburban railway zone, and other matters in which the citizens should have a lively personal and general interest. The new Hutt line — "which like a wounded snake drags its slow length along" — has provoked many protests, in which a sharp note of impatience has been well warranted ;. but tTie end, that long, drawnout end, to crown the historic work, is said to be in night at last!, and in six months the finishing touches may be put in. As for the new railway station, only the Government knows when a building programme will be begun. It is freely admitted that the authorities have a perplexing problem. They have to do something that their predecessors failed 'to do; they have to look 'ahead a few years and take account of the capital's expansion. The space question at Thorndon has been one to thoroughly exercise the mind of the Railway Department. Some additional land has been acquired to help the department to carry out large plans to meet the needs of goods and passenger traffic. The delay has been irritating, but it is possible that it may bo proved justifiable. For one omission, however, no excuse can be found for the department. The ridiculous little parcels and luggage-room at Lambton Station has long been an an- j noyance to the public and officials alike. I It has been shown over and ov«r again that there is space for an extension, and the enlargement, with an additional ; verandah shelter for passengers, could be made for a few pounds. It has also been forcibly proved that the limitation of tho suburban area to a distance of ten miles from Wellington would be dis- j tinctly unfair, especially for the Hwtt line, on which the trains go seven miles before they touch any extent of habitable territory. There is, however, good authority for believing that the "tenmile limit" will not be applied to Wei- ! lington. Resolutions adopted by the Chamber of Commerce yesterday give the good newa that the members have determined j to do their best to fight for Wellington's i rights. The chamber should secure the assistance of other sections of the public, and make its demonstration as effective as possible. The Wellington clumber has not been so much in the public eye as its contemporaries of other centres and such boroughs as Feilding, but it would be very wrong for th© public to assume that the chamber has not been active. Much solid work has been done comparatively quietly, but it seems thai .the time has -come lor » Jour dt*.tOK9,

a strong pull and a long pull, the irresistible call of a city for the justice which is its due.