RAILWAY POLICY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 12

RAILWAY POLICY.

WELLINGTON'S REQUIREMENTS.

NEW STATION DEFERRED

ATTENTION FOR THE BACKBLOCKS. . [Pzn Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 3

A big representative deputation waited on the Hon A. M. Myers, Minister of Railways, to-day and urged the early erection of a new central railway station in Wellington. The local bodies represented were the Wellington City Council, Harbour Board, Education Board, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Industrial Association, Employers' Association, Shopkeepers' Association, the Petone, Miramar, Karori and Onslow Borough Councils, the Hutt County Council, Victoria College Council, Trades and Labour Council and Wellington and Palmerston North Chambers of Commerce. Messrs T. Ronayne (General Manager) and S. F. Whitcombe (District Traffio Manager) were present. The speakers were Mr D. M'Laren (Mayor of Wellington), Mr R. Fletcher (Chairman Wellington Harbour Board), Mr D. Robertson (Technical Education Board), Mr A. C. Kirk (Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board), Mr Mabin (President Wellington Chamber of Commerce), Mr Elliott (Palmerston Chamber of Commerce), Mr Reyling (Trades and Labour Council), Mr'Partridge (Industrial Association), Hon C. M. Luke (Employers' Association), Mr L. Queree (Shopkeepers' Association), Mr M'Leod (Mayor of Miramar). Mr Cathie (Mayor of Karon), Mr Holdsworth (Mayor of Onslow), Mr Thompson (Victoria College Council), Mr E. Trogear (United Labour Party) and Mr W. H. D. Bell, member for Wellington Suburbs. The promoters of the deputation, which was initiated by the City Council, had not invited the local members of Parliament to take part in the deputation, so those gentlemen waited on MiMyers last evening urging the importance of erecting an adequate station. Mr Myers then deferred his reply till after hearing the citizens' deputation to-day. Referring to this to-day, Mr M'Laren said.that representation on tho deputation was of a. civic character. He desired to say this because some reference had been made by members of Parliament to their not receiving an invitation to be present. No discourtesy was intended. > The matter was not one of party politics, and he hoped it would never be.

The various speakers were unanimous in stressing the need for the immediate building of a new station. Mr Mabin said that last year outward railway passengers from Wellington numbered 549,000, from Christchurch 413,000, from Auckland 349,000, and from Dunedin 346,000. The value of goods sent' by rail out of Wellington for the year amounted to £260,000, from Auckland £223,000, from Dunedin £167,000 and from Christchurch £145,000. This showed that Wellington was tho premier station.

In reply, Mr Myers, after acknow- I ledging Mr Mabin's references to him, J and congratulating Mr McLaren on his ehxjtion as Mayor of Wellington, said that with the assistance of his officers ho had gone carefully into the matter and he was prepared to tell the deputation frankly what his opinion was. He could now see tho justification for making the Minister of Railways also the Minister of Finance. As Minister of Railways it would give him great pleasure to have his name associated with the erection of such a building, but as Minister of Finance, ho had to hesitate in givincc the answer which the deputation immediately desired. Of. late, the necessity had arisen, not only in Wellington, but in other centres, for the erection of more up-to-date buildings for the services required to be carried out. They had to regard the requirements of the country as a whole. As far as Wellington was concerned, the question brought under his notice was not a new one, '■and he thought it was only right to take the public into his confidence as to his intentions. His predecessor had given the matter his attention, and the-De-partment's officers had already furnished their advice on tho v question. Mr Robertson was quite right when he said that plans for the station were already in existence. In matters of the kind the people who should be trusted were the Department's ■ experts. In touching on this aspect he knew ho was treading on dangerous ground, but he could say that tho Officers had decided on a site, which he would indicate. The matter hod not been submitted to Cabinet yet. but it would bo at the earliest possible moment. The site chosen was between Featherston Street and Waterloo Quay and fronting Bunny Street, with a single line to To Aro. As far as his own opinion went, he was convinced they had to look to tho requirements of the future. He was quite in sympathy with tho desire to have a. building erected, as in the case of all public .buildings, where the aesthetic side would not be 'entirely disregarded. ' "I believe," ho .paid, "that our public buildings should be a monument to our civic patriotism." . As one who had taken some interest in town planning, he continued, ho thought that before the new station had been finally decided upon a conference should take place between the Department, the Citv Council and the Harbour Board, so that regard might bo paid to the future development of the city and the systematising of services. At the moment it was quite evident to him that as the result of such conference it would bo decided to widen Thorndon Quay. That was a matter that would I be worthy of the attention of the civic 9 authorities. There was not the slightest doubt that the interest of the Harbour Board in this matter was a. very important one. Tn tbe preparation of the plans to which ho. had referred, provision had been made for five platforms, two for arriving express trains with a line on one side only and covered carriage way, and three with lines on both sides and covered ways. It would be seen that eight trains could be dealt with at one time, and in addition there was provision for two extensions to suburban trains, making tho station capable of accommodating ten trains. He agreed that it would be necessary to make arrangements with the civic authorities for adequate tramway connection. As to the specific micstiori which bad been put by the deputation, the Minister continued, he would say at onco that ho was not prepared to suggest to the Cabirpt that instructions should.bo given to put this great undertaking in hand. " Tt has been said," ho added, " that if I wished to make mvself popular, T. should acquiesce in the demands made for carrying out tho work. T recognise its importance, but ono or two gentlemen have been enough to snv that thev hfilipve I will proceed in the control of the Departments of. which. I have charge on businesslike linns. It is with that knowledge that I have to inform von that I am not prepared to urKo tho Cabinet to nut this matter in hand this year. I do no*-, wish to be popular • T wjsh t/» earn the respect of those who think T am worthy to hold tin* position." '.Hear, hear.) Largo demands, the Minister sod, woro heinr .mad* for nli increase in the railway rnllind!-"d.o«k in order that nroper reward wicVht he paid to + l, o industrial Nfe of the community. There ""-as oiqo the imrf of improving tho grades. TWO wer" demand" for w»*-M<» yards, sidings, s"hwavn and other things, it was therefore unite +o him. ?* « business mpn, if he nr-ht be permitted i to say so. that he would have to ascor-

tain what wore the most urgent requirements. Pie would say at once, although he was a city man, that his sympathies lay in tho direction of granting facilities to those in the backblooks who had not oven roads to get to their holdings That aspect of the question could not be overlooked. Attention had to he given to the requirements of oeople I such as he had mentioned. He behoved j in a progressive policy, but one had to deal justly with the demands for com- ' munication from all parts of the do- ' minion. While ho had made it perfectly clear that it was not his intention Ito recommend the work this year, he i wished to say that he did not propose, ! if he still occupied the position, to put the matter on ono side. The question would have to be gone into in the noar ! future. With that end in view, it was his intention to suggest that two of ithe leading railway officers, the Chief 1 Engineer and tho Chief Traffic Manager, should bo instructed to proceed to Australia, and, if necessary, further afield, with a view to getting further information that would guide them in the erection of the new building. The matter was.no small one; it would run.into something like £350,000 or £400,000. He did not say for one moment that this would be immediately necessary, but to do justice to the initial requirements alone, something like £250,000 would be necessary. The information obtained by the two officers in question would guide them in their final decision, and the building when erected would be one of the most up-to-date railway stations in Australia. In tho interests of economy it would be necessary to have a .central railway station. The General Manager realised the necessity for giving every facility for improving traffic. , . In reference to a complaint about passengers having to board and disembark from trains in the rain. Mr Myers announced that extensions of the verandahs of Lambton and Thorndon stations would be provided. As to congestion at the ticket boxes, the Department was now considering proposals for the use of slot machines for the sale of tickets. With a view to improving the facilities for the handling of goods, the maintenance shops were being transferred to Kaiwara. and the work would be finished in two months' time. This would greatly improve the present condition of things and additional sidings would bo laid down to meet existing requirements. To make room for those the Public Works Department arid the Postal Department, which made use of some of the land at present, had been given notice to quit. He might say to Mr Bell, with reference to some observations that had been made, that the Department was absolutely nonpartisan in. its work. Mr Myers added that he would have been pleased if he could have given the deputation a different answer, but the requirements of the dominion were such that ho could not. Ho reminded the deputation that large post offices in Auckland and Wellington and new Parliament buildings had also to be erected. "I hope I shall be called a prudent financier," he said in conclusion. " That justifies me in giving the answer Mr Robertson: Could you give us some idea when you are likely to bogin? That would give us something to think about. Mr Myers: I think I did when I told you of the site selected. Mr M'Laren, in thanking Mr Myers, acknowledged with gratitude his recognition of the interests of the city in the matter. He said that he hoped the work would be undertaken next year.

Mr Myers added that he did not wish the deputation to go away under a misapprehension. When he had travelled over the dominion and ascertained what the most urgent works were ho would bo very glad to make a definite statement.