NELSON RAILWAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1931, Page 5

NELSON RAILWAY

THREAT OF CLOSING

PROVINCES RESPONSE

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

NELSON, Bth December

Following on the Railway Board's threat to close the Nelsou Bectiou of the railways if the revenue of'the iine did not increase before March of next year, the second pul'lie meeting called ly the Ne'ion Progress League was held in the Municipal Chambers, country interests particularly taking part iv suggestions made to increase the usefulness of the line. Resolutions were passed supporting the following suggestions for increasing the business of the line:-^ "That this meeting urges the. desirability of inaugurating through booking of passengers and goods to the West Coast and South Island generally and to enable this to be done traffic should be extended to the railhead at Gowan Bridge and connection made with lnangahua Junction per motor. "That an express through service should be arranged taking passengers and perishable goods to West Coast points, and, -if possible, Christchurch, in the one day, and also a fast service be run from Gowan Bridge to Nelson and return at least once a week, reaching town not later than 10 a.m. .

''That in order to facilitate business all shipping, tourist, and other, offices booking passengers should be enabled to issue through tickets for passengers to Nelson;. "Notices of., facilities given should be posted in all hotels and other public places as may be desirable.'

"That it tbe a, recommendation to provide a motor train for frequent running between Belgrove and Nelson such as is already iv use elsewhere, c.g1., Christ-church-Litlle River line.

"That believing that the loss of railway traffic is .partly due to the trade depression and. bad seasons for production, and in view of the fact that some railway goods rates on this line are prohibitive and out of'date, this meeting is of opinion that the threat to close the local line if returns do not improve is quite unfair. This meeting, therefore, requests the railway authorities to reduce the A and■ ,B rates for goods to at least the rates in force (for purposes of competition) on certain North Island Hues and also to reduce reasonably the rate for dry timber, which would enable the railway.to compete for traffic that is being lost. "This meeting recommends the total derating of rural lands for road purposes, and that the whole of the road maintenance should be borne by motor transport vehicles, by the means of petrol tax." A "feeder" system has'already been put into operation throughout the district. By this system the Railway. Department arrange, for the transport of produce from the farms to the train and vice versa.