LIGHT RAILWAY SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17456, 28 April 1920, Page 9

LIGHT RAILWAY SYSTEM.

MEANS OF DEVELOPMENT.

PROPOSAL IN YORKSHIRE.

TV construction of light " railways to act as feeders to the main lines of commau'eatiou has often been suggested in order to assist in the development of this country, to enable produce to be handled more expeditiously, especially in transport from bar-k-blocks districts. A project of this kind has been suggested by Sir Robert Walker, to assist the farmers in that part of Yorkshire in which he lives. Sir Robert is well-known in Auckland, having acted for some time during the war period as general staff officer, attached to the Auckland district headquarters. H.s proposal is to construct a railway «-f l.Mnch gauge from the vicinity 0 Warthill station, on the line of the North Eastern railway, over the river Derwent, to a point a few miles from Sand Hutton, with a view to assisting his tenants and others i" the transportation of their produce and of their coal and fertilisers, and also with a view to carrying passengers when reaired. ■ The scheme was explained at a meeting of the Derwent District Agricultural Club at Stamford Bridge. It was stated that in many cases the railway would run right past the farms, where a siding would be provided, so that the produce from that particular farm and from ■".hose close to it might be collected and forwarded without any undue interference with the main line.

" The construction of light railways," stated Mr. H. K. Longman, estate agent to Sir Robert Walker, " is one of the most important, items in the development of agriculture at the present time, and Sir . Robert- wishes to be one of the first landowners in England to take on the enter- , prise. His personal experience has convinced him that such a railway can prove of the greatest benefit to both landlord and tenant. . . . Sir Robert is in no wav desirous of making such a railway a big financial success, and provided a reasonable return is assured on the capital 1 it-lay, he wilf be quite satisfied. His object is to assist bis own tenants to the fullest extent of his power, and to make the line of real benefit to the district which it. would serve. It will probably be desirable to form a small private company ir connection with the enterprise, as this ■will mean that the various facilities for running the line will be more easily obtained. " Several members expressed approval of the scheme, consideration being deferred.