PALMERSTON WANTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 54, 5 March 1914, Page 8

PALMERSTON WANTS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER FOR RAILWAYS. DIVIDED~OPINION. (BT TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL TO THg POST.) PALMERSTON N., This Day. The Hon. \V. H. Herries, Minister for Railways, met_ a deputation from the Borougli Council, Chamber of Commerce, and other citizens last evening. The counoil asked for the line of railway to Terrace End to be fenced, while several business men along the route objected. Mr. Herries replied that he would be pleased to hear both sides of the qufc<tion. The Department was prepared to fence and provide a cattle-atop; at a cost of between £600 and £700, but he did nofc_ want to fence the lines and then get petitions from objectors. He suggested the holding of a public meeting to diecuss the matter, and get an expression of opinion by a majority as to whether they wanted tho fencing or not. The question of alarm bells in Square was next mentioned. The Minister replied that there would bo no difficulty about alarm bells, and ho would see that warning bells v wore provided, to be operated from the, signal boxes, The nuisance of whistling in the Square was _also brought under the notice of the Minister, who replied that drivers had been instructed to whistle when approaching the crossing, but he would t give inetruotions i to desist when trains were standing in the Square waiting for signals. A reduction of freight on foreign coal was asked for to inland towns. The freight was considered a hardship. The Minister replied thai he could not see his way clear to alter the conditions at present. Mr. Buiek, M.P V stated that hardwoods were also subject to heavy freight, which did not give local tradespeople a fair chance against those in seaport town*. Tho Chamber of Commerce asked that the freight on. wool sent back to tho country for scouring should be reduced. The deputation pointed out that tho Department frequently got three freights on a bale of wool sent back for scouring. A reduction was also asked for on hemp, damaged by water sent back for drying. Tho shortage of trucks and delay and loss to business men were mentioned, and tho Minigter was asked to remedy thte defect. Mr. Herridß replied, regarding wool, coal, und hemp, that these matters had already beea brought before the Department;. The question of tariff, was being revised, and ho hoped to bring about improvements. Ho wanted lo see his way clear to make up tho revenue in some other way before alteration* were made. He could .not see his way clear at present to make tho concession asked for on wool, although ho recOjjnifced that wool scouring should be encouraged in tho country, but he did not think this should be <km» ai tho cxpenee of tho Railway Department. Tho De parlment was endeavouring to cope with the shortage of truckn, and inofe worebeing constructed. The abnormal season had accounted in a largo measure- for the deficiency. Regarding the matter of a traffic manager for Palmerston, he wonkl consider tho matter. A new traffic district had already boon created between tho Frankton and Marton Junctions.