A YEAR’S TRIAL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 January 1931, Page 9

A YEAR’S TRIAL

EYRETON BRANCH RAILWAYThe New Zealand Minister of Railways, Hon. W. A. Veitch, has decided to keep the West Ely ret on branch line open for another year’s trial in view of representations made to him by a deputation of settlers from the district. A. restricted service on both the Eyreton and Oxford branches will be worked, according to advice received from the Minister by Mr. R. W. Hawke, M.P. for Kaiapoi, who introduced the deputation cm December 19. The service will be worked by a train crew stationed at Oxford West, giving a twice-weekly service between Oxford and Rangiora and Rangiora and Oxford. The train crews now stationed at Bennetts will be*. withdrawn to meet the requirements of the farmers! in connection with stock. For the Addington sales on Wednesdays, arrangements will be made to work each branch on Tuesday afternoons. “1 would like,” continued the Minister, “to make it clear that my decision to. kepe the Eyre ton line open for a year’s trial has been made on the assurance given to. mo of the. loyal support that would be given by the people of the district to the railway with a- view to reducing the. present heavy losses. The matter will he reviewed at the end of another year’s trial. lam looking further into the question of re-opening the Oxford AVest-Sheffield portion of line, and will communicate with yon as soon as possible.”