NEW RAILWAY STATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 7 November 1925, Page 5

NEW RAILWAY STATION.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTIVE

URGES COMPLETION OF SCHEME

At last evening’s meeting of the executive of the Hawera Chamber of Commerce, it was decided that Mr H. C. Dickie be recommended to interview the Minister of 'Railways urging the completion of the proposed Hawera railway station at Turuturn.

The chairman (Mr E. Dixon) said that he thought! the question of the new railway station should be pressed upon the Department, and that Mr Dickie should see the Minister. The Department had built a number of cottages near tliw- proposed site, but apparently nothing concerning the station had been done for some time. He felt that/ Hawera had been neglected in this respect, while other districts had received better treatment. If the Hawera people allowed this to go on without protest they could only blame themselves if the Ha.wera terminus was removed to Stratford. Mr Dickie said thati this would be quite likely when the Stratford-Main Trunk line was completed, and if the matter was left too long. lie thought the new station should be 'kept under the Department’s notice before it began to consider the question of removing the terminus. The Department had spent a good deal of money to acquire the land for the site, and it would be a pity if the station Avas not erected. Mr J. B. Murdoch suggested that the present station should be left as a passenger station, Avhile the goods station be removed to Turuturu. The new site Avas a considerable distance from the town, and) this would mean hardship to many people.

Mr B. C. Bennett said that no loophole should be. left to allow tlie Department to shelve the. question of the iigav station. If it Avas suggested to leave the present station for passenger traffic, the Department might indefinitely postpone the erection of the ne w station until a decision had been made concerning the. terminus. It Avas am urgent necessity to have the n.eAv station, and it had long been promised. He considered that strong pressure should be brought to bear on the Department to push on with the proposal. He was sure that by the time the station Avas built motor ’busses would be running from toAvn to the station. Mr Dixon agreed with Mr Bennett, and said that the town of Hawera was extending towards Turuturu, and soon the new site would be as near the centre of the toAvn as the present station.. . . , A motion asking Air Dickie to interview the Minister of Railways to urge the Department to continue with the scheme was carried.