IMPROVED ACCESS WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1914, Page 3

IMPROVED ACCESS WELLINGTON AND WAIRARAPA

THE RIMUTAKA INCLINE. OPENING UP THE EAST COAST. Three important questions were considered by the Council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday, namely, the Rimutaka deviation, the development of the Lower Wairarapa district, and the construction of an Ea&t Coast railway between Wairarapa and Waipukuiati. The Masterton Chamber of Commerce wrote ac follows:- — "The improvement of access to the Wairarapa by deviation of the Rimutaka incline and the opening up of the country to the north-east of Masterton by the proposed Masterton- VVaipukiLrau railway are two objects which might be advocated by your Chamber, and its support would strengthen considerably the hands of the Masterton Chamber in their efforts to get the Government interested in these very necessary works." Up to the present, it was added, the citizens of Wellington generally had only taken a halfhearted interest in the matter. Tlia Chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke) said this letter opened up a great question— ■ that of the development of the Wairarapa and of railway communication. He thought it should be referred to the special committee which had been appointed to consider and report on the question of railways. Mr. T. Bush said, in regard to the proposed railway extension from Masterton to- Waipukurau, the unfortunate thing was that it was. tied up by the very large 'holdings through which the line would pass. It was very questionable whether the Government would attempt the construction of that line unless it was preceded by closer settlement. If a railway was taken through that country under present conditions it wonld mean putting a, large sum of money intc- the pockets of a few persons. He advocated the opening up of the rich land in the Southern Wairarapa. Mr. R. Hall said there was apparently a difference of opinion in Mastertoai as to whether, instead of trying to get both the Masterton- Waipukurau extension and the Rimutaka deviation, it would not be better to concentrate attention first to the latter scheme. Several members expressed the opinion that the development of tho Lower Wairarapa was more pressing than the Waipukurau extension. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt moved: — "That all the Chambers of Commerce and local bodies within the province be communicated with, conveying the suggestion that a conference of delegates be held at Wellington to consider the following important questions affecting the vital interests of . the trade and commerce of Wellington : (1) Railways, deviation and branch lines; (2) opening up the East Coast lands ; (3) improving the main roads, and particularly the improvement of the main roads of the Paekakariki and Rimutaka inclines, and of the Ngahauranga Gorge for motor traffic." There was, he said, a difference of opinion in respect to the route of the proposed Rimutaka deviation. Both Wellington and the country districts suffered from great disabilities owing to the Paekakariki and Rimutaka inclines. The matterof providing improved road communication between Wellington and the country districts should be taken in hand and dealt with in a comprehensive way. Mr. T: Bush seconded the motion. Mr. R. Hall urged that the question of the Rimntaka deviation was the question, of chief importance to Wellington. The Chairman thought that facilities should bo given to the local bodies in the Wairarapa for the construction of light lines of railway. The question of pioviding better railway facilities between the city and the country districts was of the greatest importance, and dealing with it should not be delayed, lie supported the resolution. The resolution, which was agreed to, was refcried to a committee