AN OTAHUHU GRIEVANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14458, 26 August 1910, Page 7

AN OTAHUHU GRIEVANCE.

APPROACH TO THE STATION.

AN INDIGNATION MEETING.

An indignation meeting was held in the Masonic Hall, Otahuhu, last, evening, to protest against the action of the Minister for Railways in refusing to 1 construct

ramped approaches to the railway bridge

at the station unless the Road Board contributed £300, which was the estimated cost of the work. The meeting was presided over by Mr. A. Sturges, president 'of the Otahuhu Progressive League, and was attended by between 90 to 100 people, of whom a fair proportion were ladies. Mr. Sturges moved, "That the people of Otahuhu mast strongly protest against the Government's action in asking them to provide £300 towards the erection of a ramp, which the Department evidently considers a necessity, as at all suburban

stations provision has been made for the

convenience of passengers by means of ramps, without calling upon the local bodies to find a portion of the cost."

Mr. Sturges, in speaking to the motion, said he considered it singular that Otahuhu should be singled out for euch treatment, and pointed out that the revenue from the Otahuhu station; was larger than that of any of the other suburban stations, with the exception of Newmarket. Mr.

Sturges considered that the Government had shamefully neglected Otahuhu in the matter of public works. The courthouse had only been erected under strong compulsion, and the post office, a small building, only costing about £250, did not compare favourably with the post office at Pukekohe, which would cost about £4000. The station now being erected was a credit to the place, and it was a pity to spoil it for want of a proper approach. Mr. H. J. Hall seconded the motion.

Messrs. J. Brady and Geo. Wilkinson (chairman .of the Ellerslie Town Board) also spoke to the motion. Mr. Wilkinson considered the plaim •was illegal, and the Board could not pass the money for pay-

ment. THe motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The following motion, proposed by Mr. S. J. Harbutt, was carried: —"That a representative committee,, consisting of Messrs. Sturges, J. Todd, H. J. Hall, T. P. C. Whiteley, and S. J. Ha* butt, be set up to urge the necessity of providing access to the Otahuhu station which can be used with safety by the ladies and elderliy people of the district, as the present approach is absolutely dangerous and unusable, and that the committee be instructed to interview the Minister for Railways and use every possible means to carry out the intention of the resolution, even to the extent of going to Wellington to interview Cabinet."

In speaking to the motion, Mr. Harbutt said it was unsafe for a mother to attemot to take a perambulator over the t present bridge. It. , had been attempted once, and the result Was disastrous. . There was no charge made for taking l perambulators on the train, and ■it was only reasonable that facilities should be given for getting them to ; the station, which was impossible wilder the: present circumstances." As common carriers the Government should be obliged to provide " conveniences for the travei l jig public. . The ramp was a necessity, as acknowledged by the Government, and the people must keep on agitating. . The motion was seconded by Mr. W. J. O'Hara; Meeers. W. Day, Fallon, and Wm. Andrew also spoke to the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Brady moved " That the same train service that we have on Wednesdays should be in force every day, particularly referring .to.the train..at 10.5 a.m.* ; as there was. no train between 8.30 and 1.18 p.m." . ? Mr. W. E. Lippiatt seconded the motion, while Mr. John Todd endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. ; Mr. Todd referred to the petition signed ! by the ladies asking for the ramped ap-! proaches to be constructed, and said that J 300 names had been attached to the petition, but there was still room for those who had not yet signed. •.,» . .