WAIRAKAPA ACCESS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1930, Page 11

WAIRAKAPA ACCESS

TO AVOID FURTHER MISTAKES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The question of ' improvement of the Wairarapa railway line is having its periodical airing. Is Wellington interested^ Is any improvement possible? Is it necessary? Can the work be done, and if bo,

he- should it be done? Assuming that somethiug is to oe done, who will be called on to decide the route? _ Shall it bo party politicians or responsible commercial men who will judge of the work to be done and tho best method and route? So much of our railway invest ment has been dominated by short-sighted views and party political expediency that an average-minded business man gives little thought to possible improvement as though the question was of no importance to him. Others fear to advocate, say, the Rimutaka deviation, knowing from past I experience that not engineering difficulties, but parochial wire-pulling and political. partisanship will be the obstacle in the, way of success. The location of the Wai ' rarapa railway was a partisan blunder made j six years ago. Later a survey clearly showed that a good route with a total clinib of Ices than one thousand feet was available and reduction in distance of more than seven miles. This report did not suit a section of politicians, and much time and money has been spent in surveys to accommodate the small section opposing.

The last proposal made and apparently adopted by Parliament is_ the worst of several routes —a tunnel five mileß long to get over a hill one thousand feet high. The tunnel to be entered after half the hill has been climbed on a very.steep grade, to emerge on the other Bide on top of another hill, the line to foljow a steep grade to near sea level and imme diately climb again to the first station This is what is ouf'.ied in print and diagram. A Wairarapa deputation is being organised to wait on the Govern ment to urge improved railway : access.

1 this latest proposal is accepted it will be a bigger blunder than that made by pioneers sixty years ago.: Either one of the two routes outlined by Mr. Hay more than thirty years ago has the merit of practical efficiency. It actually, climbs

less height than is taken at several points between Wellington and Hawkes

, y and eliminates - excessively sharp curves. It were better to tolerate the old blunder for another fifty years than adopt a course that in some respects is equally ridiculous; but in the meantime an improved railway to the Wairarapa is an economic business proposition that must be faced if the area is to be developed to any measure o_f its possibilities. Railway men will recognise that _the location of the repair shops for rolling'stock in the Hutt Valley has a bearing on this, question—but enough this tiino.—l am. etc.,

CITAS. 13. DAjSIELL.

MaatiJi'luii