CIVIC LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 77, 27 September 1924, Page 23

CIVIC LEAGUE

THE BUNNY STREET STATION

A meeting of .the Civic League Council was held in the Accountants* Chambers, Johnston street, on Thursday. Mr. T. Gray presided. A deputation, comprising Mr. F. Bennett, of the Khandallah Progress Asso- j ciation, and Mr. P. G. Stringer, of the , Ngaio Progress Association, was received in connection with the proposed new railway station at Bunny street. The deputation asked the council whether jt was advisable at the present to press the Government to commence and push ahead to completion the station. if not, arrangements should be made to land all suburban passengers at Lambton staition. For ten years the solution had been negatived by the Government, owing to the imminence of the new permanent station. From Thorndon station ton station. For ten years the solution stated, the worst piece of road in Wellington. Lambton station would land the passengers in the- heart of the city, and considerable time would be.suved and, inconvenience avoided. Officers of the Railway Department seemed somewhat opposed to the latter scheme. The General Manager considered it dangerous, although during the war troops had been brought into Lambton station without any difficulty or casualties. The progress of Ngaio and Khandallah was hampered by the inconvenient railway transport. In the discussion that ensued Mr. Rusden Salt, as an old Khandallah resident, heartily sympathised with the deputation. He considered that the Tailway fares charged were based on the mileage to Lambton station, and not Thorndon station, and it was grossly unfair that Thorndon passengers should be burdened with a section tram fare to reach Lambton station. Mr. J. M. Bertram said that if the new railway station were pushed ahead immediately, he considered that it would take at least five years for completion. To alleviate the position' during such a long wait, certain trains could be run to Lambton station, such as the early morning milk trains, say, three before 9 a.m., and the same number on the return journey between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. The chairman considered that it was rather a difficult matter to deal with at present, but he assured the delegates that the League Council would give every assistance in its power to the matter of landing passengers at Lambtoii station. He congratulated the delegates on the assurance that their associations would be linking up. with the Civic League. The secretary reported that ho had not been able to arrange a further interview with the Harbour Board in con- j nection with the provision of a lifeboat j for the Port of Wellington. The matter, I however, would not be lost sight of. The secretary stated that most of the affiliated associations were showing a ' commendable spirit in regard to the Citizens' Wai' Memorial, and were carrying out the suggestions of the league. It was decided to ask the City Council whether the seawall at Oriental Bay is to be completed by way of moneys raised by loan or revenue. . Tho Island Bay' Association brought forward the question of reduced tram fares, and it was decided to refer the matter to the executive to be dealt with at an early date. The book, " Progressive New Zealand," published for tho Wembley Exhibition, was added to the league library. The secretary was instructed to write to the affiliated associations asking them to forward reports of their meetings. It .was moved and carried, "That the City Council be written to requesting information as to tho rules of procedure to be observed in applying for hearings as deputations to the council and committees.'' The question of entertaining overseas and prominent visitors was discussed, and it was decided to refer it to the executive for a report. Mr. S. Wilson moved that the secretary write to Mr. Bennett, chairman of the Health Campaign Committee, asking him to call the committee together to decide what steps will be taken this year in connection -with the Health Week, as tho league is unanimously of the opinion that in any case the annual " clean, up " should take place.