RAILWAY FACILITIES

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 58, 6 September 1916, Page 11

RAILWAY FACILITIES

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The citizens of Wellington are to be commended for their utter laxity in connection with the erection of a suitable railway station for the terminus 6'f the North Island railway lines. I do not know of any body of public and business men so utterly indifferent to the city's welfare, many of whom have represented it in Parliament.

The first line was opened to the Lower Hutt somewhere about 1872-3. The station now is little better than it was then. Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland have all got infinitely better stations than this city, though it calls itself the Empire City, due to the indifference of the members of Parliament who have represented it, and also to the country members during a period of, roughly, forty-three years, and notwithstanding some of them were Ministers of the Crown.

I believe a recent statement has been made that the cost of a new station, including the acquirement and reclamation of land necessary for the laying of lines and erection of goods 6heds, is estimated at £400,000. It was well known at the time of the construction of the line to Featherston and northeastwards, via the Summit, that that route would be a. most expensive one, not only on account of the grade on this side, but to tht fact that special rails and engines would be necessary on the other, yet the line was persisted in, due chiefly te individual interests. Will someone well up in figures, if there is one sufficiently interested in the city, calculate tho -extra cost of the construction and running of the line as it ie now and if it had been taken round the coast; the length of time via that way and the present; and tho difference in wear and tear? The longer this line is continued as it is the more expensive it becomes. In this calculation tie cost of the^ extra staffs, engines, etc., at the Summit and Cross Creek are to bo taken into account.

My main object in writing this is to call the attention of the citizens and residents of the country between here and the east of the Bimutaka Raage served by the railway. lit has just been proved by the success of the War Loan that there is plenty of money in tho city and outside. Why should not those who have subscribed to that loan offer to subscribe to another £1,000,000 for the purpose of the alteration of the line and the reclamation, of the land, erection of the necessary goods sheds, etc., and a station suitable, but not excessively ornate? The amount of the loan could be repaid in the saving of the cost of running the present line. It would euroly pay the producers alone to take up the loan, as there would be less cost on the goods carried. I. hope this sketchy production will, if it- is possible, stimulate tho indifferent public of the city and eastern side of the district to showing a little more energy than the slow-going Chambers of Commerce.—l am, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO. 4th September.