RAILWAYS & ROADS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 108, 7 May 1912, Page 3

RAILWAYS & ROADS.

BETTER COMMUNICATION WANTED. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTIVE. The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr. A. E. Mabin) submitted a report at yesterday's meeting of the council on the need for better communication with Wellington by rail and road. In this report, Mr. Mabin said that it wa6 evident the Manawatu line wae overloaded. Increased provision would have to be mado very soon for carrying traffic. He suggested that the Government be urged to have' surveys made for the purpose of determining the best practicable route, if any, for a deviation, of the line through from the West Coast to the junction with the Hutt line. He suggested that the Government be urged to speed up the trains leaving Wellington at 4.15 daily for Pahnereton North, and Palmerston North for Wellington at 7 a.m. daily. These trainß occupied respectively 4 hours 50 minutes and 5 hours 13 minutes on the journey. They would be more used by passengers if speeded up. The chamber should accord its hearty support to the efforts of the Palmerston North Chamber in obtaining increased platform facility and station buildings at Palm erst on North. The cliamber should also a«sist the Masterton chamber in ite endeavours to get a better railway service for the Wairarapa. In regard to roads, he reported that the time had arrived when, in the interests of the city and country, good main roads, thoroughly safe for stock and motor traffic, should exist between Wellington and the Wairarapa and Dannevirke districts. . The chamber should urge the local bodies- concerned in the maintenance of the roads over the Paekakariki and Rimutaka Hills (the Hutt County Council and the Featherston County Council) to do all in their power to improve these road 6, and offer to join with them in any representations- that it might be necessary to make to the Government for a grant for. the purpose of making these roads safe for traffic. The report was adopted. Mr. Mabin stated that Wellington waa suffering unduly by reason of its natural surroundings. The country people could not come to Wellington as they did to Auckland and other large towns. There were no weekly market days here, and all attempts to get up stock sales and agricultural shows had failed. He attributed this to bad train services and bad roads. He moved the following motion : — " That in view of the isolation of Wellington City from its country districts, and the need for bringing the city and country into closer touch, a committee be set up to report' at once: "1. On the improvement desirable in the railway service to the Wairarapa. "2. On the improvement desirable in the railway service to Manawatu. "3. On the suggested deviation of the Manawatu railway line through Akatarawa Valley. "4. On the best method of improving the main road highway* to the Manawatu and Wairarapa, so that stock, vehicle, and motor traffic between town and country may be carried on in safety, and on rdade creditable to the province." The motion wa6 carried, and it wae arranged that a deputation from the chamber should wait on the Minister of Railways.