The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1924. THE RAILWAY PROPOSALS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 4 October 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1924. THE RAILWAY PROPOSALS.

OftlivHTft.l e- nr* evening by 6 o'clock In Hawer* Manilla. NWinanby Okaiawa. Eltham, ' Patet., Waverley, Mokoia, Wbakaoiara, Oiiangai, M erarnern, Fraecr Road, and Otakeuo Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Mangatoki, \ Kaponga, Awatnna, Opunake,

The proposals made by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coates), who is keen to. undertake the many improvements which have been patiently awaited, have no doubt been read with interest by people throughout the Dominion. When Mr. Hiley was General Manager of Railways a comprehensive scheme for improvements was drawn up and the works were authorised under the Railways Improvement Authorisation Act of 1914 providing for a total expenditure of £3,200,000, but the outbreak of the war made it impossible for the work to be completed. However, in the ten years which have passed since Parliament sanctioned the work being carried out, £963,68,5 has been spent upon portions of the Hilev scheme. Since 1914 the population of the country has grown greatly, and with it the traffic on the lines has increased. In 1914, 2854 miles were open, compared with 3028 in 1923, and the number of passengers increased irom 13,355,893 to 14,256,610. Season tickets in 1914 were 287,037 and in 1923 485,681. Goods traffic grew from 6,019,633 tons to 6,618,588. It is clear therefore that the extensive improvements required in 1914 are still more needed in 1924. Unfortunately the cost of improvements now will be much heavier than in pre-war times, and the total amount proposed in the Minister’s. statement will probably enable comparatively little more to be done than Mr Hiley’s scheme costing £3,200,000. The schedule setting out the proposed expenditure each . year gives the total cost for Hawera as £20,000, the work to be done in the sixth year. This is very disappointing, for it was understood that the amount to be spent at Hawera would be about £BO,OOO, and the work was regarded as among the most urgent, Hawera being placed near the top of the list of important works. The Minister’s scheme means apparently that the inconvenience which the people of the district have patiently endured is to continue for the next six years, and then a station and yards considerably below expectations is. to be provided. From what the people had been led to | believe, Hawera, was regarded as more important from the Rainvav Department’s point of view than they are now led to think by the. Minister’s proposals. We hope that the matter will be taken up immediately by the people, and if after discussing the question it is thought that, the Minister has overlooked the requirements of the town and district representations should be made to him to have the position improved. We are not concerned with the Minister’s proposals for other. places, but we are concerned with the scheme as far as it concerns Hawera and South Taranaki, and the people will be justified in examining the proposals and determining to what extent the district has been given adequate consideration by the Minister. The Minister’s proposed expenditure makes one think that the plan of building a station and yards on the Turuturu site has been abandoned, and that the new station will be on the present site. If so it is difficult to see how the necessary land for extending the yards adequately is to be secured. It is important for the future welfare and progress of the town and district that full enquiries should be made into the position immediately before Parliament sanctions the scheme. We know that the Minister has endeavoured to secure a thorough first-hand knowledge of the various sections of the line, and he has gone to great trouble to secure the information required for drawing ap his programme of improvements and new works a programme which will prob-

ably be Avcleoined by the Dominion as a whole—but Ave also knoAV that the proposal made for the much needed alterations at HaAvera is disappointing in \ r ieAA’ of the encouraging statements made in reply to local representations which have been.in hand for several years past. HoAveA r er, it appears to us that the best course is for representatiA'es of the toAA r n and district to meet and discuss the matter and seek the fullest information from the Minister regarding his proposals.