TO RUN TO WESTPORT

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1942, Page 4

TO RUN TO WESTPORT

RAIL-CAR SERVICE Starting in a Fortnight (.Special to “Argus.”) ! WELLINGTON. August 19- > The public of the Buller district • and no doubt Lnangahua and Grey district residents as well, will wei” comp the news that the rail car sei - vice, which hitherto has been °° el ?r I ting between Greymoutji and Christ- I church, and Greymouth and Hokitka, is about to be extended from Greymouth to Westport. i On Tuesday evening. Hon. R.. »ernple. Minister of Railways, and Hon P. C. Webb. Minister of Mines, ana Member for Buller, returned to .Wellington after their visit to the vyes . Coast and Buller districts, dun ng I which th.e matter of such a servic- j was considered by them. j Mr. Semple to-dav had a c ° n ,l ence with the Minister of i udhc . Works, Hon. H. T. Armstrong ana ( his Engineers, together with M-• • I Casey. General Manager of Railways, and other responsible officers °i ■ railway department. T h< mf on * e^e<mdiscussed fully the possibility and au visability of running a rail car sei- i vice from Greymouth to WestporL bearing particularly in mind tne sav ing of rubber and of benxine. It was unanimously at the c o nt ® r 7 ence agreed that the service sh ° u , be undertaken. Preliminaries wilt oe necessary preparation of time-tables, and a proper understanding between the Public Works’ Department engineers and Railway Department otncials, in order that the service may be run with a minimum of delay ana a maximum of safety. There appears to be no reason why this can* not be done. .. It is estimated that it will be about a fortnight before the service could operate. - , „ „ Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., (Member fox Westland), stated that at the ference held to-dav between the Ministers of Public Works and Railways. Mr. Casey and My. Sawyers and other responsible officers of the Railway Service Department were present. For purpose of saving benzine and rubber the Minister of Railways stated, definitely, the service ought to be given. It would bp a fortnight, however, before the service could operate, as some preliminary arrangements would have to be made between the Public Works’ Department engineers, and Railway officials in order that the service can be run safely without delav. Mr. Semple conveyed the information to Mr. O’Briein that t:> service would be operated.