LEVIN-MARTON DEVIATION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1661, 14 October 1920, Page 5

LEVIN-MARTON DEVIATION.

NOT SERIOUSLY REGARDED. Some time ago the Manawatu County Council convened a conference at which certain members of Parliament and representatives of various local bodies discussed a proposal regarding the Levin to Marton railway deviation. The outcome of the deliberations was an appeal to the Government to adopt this scheme, urging that the matter was of national importance. Should this be carried out, Palmerston and Feilding would be greatly affected, but local bodies in this district have not viewed the action of the conference as being' at all serious, and consider that it is highly improbable that the Government will adopt such a scheme. The question was raised at yesterday's meeting of the Oroua County Council (Feilding) by Cr O. McElroy, who said that the local bodies in this quarter had made no movement in opposition to the entreaties of the Manawatu and other bodies. Something should be done. "There is some smoke, but I don't know if this is going to be any fire," he said. He understood that the Government had purchased 42 acres of land at Marton and were also carrying out survey work, but as to whether this bore any significance, he was unable to say. However, they could not afford to ignore it altogether and some protest should be lodged against such a deviation. Cr McElroy pointed out that the Main Trunk route would be shortened by only 17 miles by a cut from Levin to Marton, while the cost for such a scheme would probably be £200,000. To spend such an amount on a railway line to run practically parellel with the present one was, in his opinion, an absolute absurdity. It was not going to benefit the taxpayers but, in reality, only a few tourists who would be saved half-an-hour or so on the journey. He thought the Chambers of Commerce would be the best bodies to move first. Cr J. Morrison said that they need not worry themselves as the agitators did not have a hope of getting the scheme through. Wanganui had pooh-poohed the idea, considering that there was too much money wanted elsewhere for the Government to agree. It was hardly likely they would side-step Palmerston and Feilding. . at _ Cr W. Greenhow: "Then why is the Government proceeding to spend money on surveying." Cr Morrison: "It was authorised some time ago. To jny mind Mr Massey will come up and view the proposed route, express sympathy with the agitators, and say that there is no money with which to do it." Cr McElroy said that there would be some sense in spending money on establishing railways to places where there were no roads. He pointed out that in the Manawatu County he had propertv which would be considerably enhanced if the railway went into the county, but nevertheless he would not •support it. "I know there has been a lot of wire pulling going on among the large property holders." Cr Morrison: "That district is well served by the tramway, and a lot of that country is only rabbit country." There is not the slightest fear, but we/ don't want to be caught napping. We would not be justified in taking anv action; the Chambers of Commerce in Palmerston North and Feilding and the Farmers' Union should get going first." Cr McElroy: "I notice Sir James Wilson says it is a national question." Cr Morrison: "There is no national question about it; it is a 'rabbit' question." (Laughter.) "I don't know if he thinks that if he gets the railway there, he will get the HydroElectricity Boards as well." Cr! Vincent: "It has all cropped up in order to stop Palmerston North from having a new station." It was agreed to leave the question to Chambers of Commerce and Farmers' Union to take action.