HUTT RAILWAY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 118, 22 May 1925, Page 9

HUTT RAILWAY

RAMP ROADS AND LEVEL

CROSSINGSH

WESTERN HUTT MEETING FWOUBS LEVEL CROSSINGS.

A meeting convened by tho Western Hutt Advancement Association in relation to the proposed Hutt-railway deviation was held in the Main School, Lower Hutt, last evening. Mr. C. A. Strong, president of the association," occupied the chair. Mr. T. M. Wilford M.P., Mr. W. T. Strand (Mayor of Lower Hutt), and Mr.. J. W. M'Ewan (Mayor of Petone) were present:- by- invitation of the association.

The Chairman said the residents of Alicetown and the north end of Petone wore very much exercised over thp Government proposals in regard to the railway deviation. The association had already discussed the question, and opinions opposed to proposed method of overcoming the difficulty in regard to road crossings were freely expressed, and members of the association had desired that the member for the district should be asked to attend and give the meeting the benefit of any information lie possessed, and also hear the vinws of. persons who objected. The- Mayors of the two boroughs had also' been invited, as they were 'members of the Hutt Valley Railway Committee, and would, therefore, know what' the proposals of the Railway' Department were. Mr. Strang then invited members to express their views.

Mr. Wright said he most emphatically objected to ramp roads over the railway.

Mr. Taylor said the ramp roads were ridiculous. There were only two ways of access to Petone, and it was proposed to block both with high embankments. Mr. Savage objected to the ramp roads, as they would most seriously depreciate property in the neighbourhood.

Mr. Gray said there was a general "grouse" from Hutt residents that, they had not been given information about the proposed railway. He thought the Government could have spent the money to more advantage in providing better roads and a fleet of motor 'buses. Market garden produce would not bo carried by th.6 railway. , LEVEL CROSSINGS. Mr. W. -H. Edwards protested against the embankments owing to the way property would be depreciated. In his opinion level crossings should be made, safeguarded by gates and crossingkeepers. Other towns, such as Palmer«ton North, had level crossings. He desired to know if it was. the policy of tile Department in other places to make ramp road*.

Tho Chairman said ramp roads had been built-in now lines in Auckland, much, ho thought, to the detriment of property in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Osborn said the ramp road would seriously depreciate shop property in Alicetown. - - - .

Mr. Osborn said it was generally accepted that the railway was a progressive movement; the only question-.was the method of construction. He strong--ly favoured level crossings.. ■ Mr. Strand said, he was sorry he had not been made fully aware of the purpose of the meeting, or he would have endeavoured to have some of the engmeors present with plans, when, he ■ thought, many of tho seeming difficulties would have been removed. He suggested adjourning the meeting until a date when the engineers could attend. In answer to a question whether ho favoured ramp roads, he said the question was one entirely for experts, :but; lip knew there was a strong feeling among railway engineers against level crossings. Compensation should most certainly bo paid to every person whose property was depreciated.

Mr. J. W. M'Ewan said lie had oppostd the railway from the start. What he thought should have' been done was to place a station at. the west end of White's Line (Wakefield street), widen White's Line, put down a, bitumen track, and build a, traffic bridge over the river, and serve the area east of the river with motor 'buses. Mr. M'Ewan then outlined the engineers' proposals regarding ramp roads on the. Hutt road and Cuba street. The only alternatives to ramp roads were level crossings or else to go wholeheartedly for the abandonment of the whole proposed deviation.

Mr. T. M. Wilford said he thought the meeting should concentrate on getting the engineers to abandon the ramp roads in favour of •'level crossings with proper safety devices. It was certain the railway was going on. The proposal had received the unanimous approval of every member in the House, and the Government was committed to it. The reason the engineers were not in favour of level crossings with safety devices was that there would be a demand from all over New Zealand for tho safety devices to be installed at dangerous railway crossings. Level crossings with safety devices wero v in use the world over, and they were fool-proof. Persons whose property was depreciated were most certainly enticed to compensation, but money was hot'always proper compensation, and the persons who would suffer from ramp roads wero entitled to demand that every effort should Tic mude to find. the best crossing, possible. The, best thing would bo to got Mr. Widdop (Chief Engineer) to attend a meeting and produce plans of the line jand levels, and also to ask him .to give 1 his reason why level crossing's were impossible. Mr. Strand said he would bo pleased to c»]t a, public meeting'-aii'd'"ask Mr. AViddop to be present. Tf> was agreed to do this. On tho. motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Edwards, the meeting unanimously passed a resolution favouring a policy of level crossings.

The visitors Were thanked for their attendance, and a vote of thanks was accorded the chairman.