NEW RAILWAY METHODS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 April 1925, Page 4

NEW RAILWAY METHODS.

AN ENTER PRISING MINISTER. IMPORTANT AJSTNOUN GITtt E.s ,'S (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, April 16. The Hon. Uoates, Minister oi I'lrhlio Woitks ami Railways, turned the first sod this afternoon of the Hutt Valley liatLway deviation. He staged that the work was to be proceeded with immediately, and completed! within eighteen months. The line was .being built on the betterment principle, being the first instance in New Zealand. The Government had purchased the land the line would run - through, and it was estimated that the sale of the land an the enhanced' value would meet the cost of construction.

•The Minister also officially switched on the Mangahao power to the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board’s station, and unveiled a brass tablet commemorating the event... ,

Speaking at a social function later, the Minister stated that the Railway Board lvas already speeding up the railway passenger services, and would speed them up still more to meet motor competition. Similar- competition regarding goods traffic would be met by linking up roads-and railways, and inaugurating a system of delivery from city stores to settlers’ homes "in the out-districts.

The Minister announced that a new Sentinel steam driven railway car would come into operation at once, and would make six additional runs in and out of Wellington to the Hutt in addition. to the existing service; also that in the course of a week or so the department proposed to begin a new South Island, service, cutting down the time of the north-hound express hy one hour 13 minutes, and that* of the south-hound by one hour '2O minutes. That, for the moment, seemed the best that could be done. Other speedier services were under consideration.