REGRADING A STATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 13

REGRADING A STATION.

REMOVAL OF PORTER. TE RAPA SETTLERS PROTEST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.~\ HAMILTON, Monday. Tho proposal' of tho Railway Department to remove tho porter at thole Rapa station was discussed at a well-attended meeting of Horotiu, to Rapa and 1o Kowhai settlers on Saturday. It was stated that tho department's decision had been como to on the grounds of economy, it being contended that tho station could bo operated moro efficiently and more economically from Frankton. The following resolution was passed:— "That this meeting of farmers enters a strong protest against tho proposed removal of tho officer in charge of the To Rapa station, as being inimical to tho best interests of the community and tho railway service,* and a retrograde step. The meeting urges tho Minister of Railways to see that no injustice is done to tho district and to see that an officer in charge of tho station be retained." The need for a trucking yard at To Rapa was also emphasised, and it was decided to ask tho department to provide a simple trucking yard at the station. FULL INVESTIGATION MADE. STATEMENT BY OFFICIAL. "Tho decision to remove tho porter and mako To Rapa an unattended station was not made until the local conditions had been fully investigated," said the district traffic manager, Mr. B. C. Houslev, when the protests of the farmers wcro referred to him. "Investigation showed that the average outward consignments from Te Rapa were only two a week. In the majority of cases, the residents are connected by rural party lines or direct with tho Hamilton telephono exchange, so that bureau fees will not be incurred when inquiries have to bo made of Frankton or Hamilton concerning the arrival of goods trains or when waggons have to bo ordered. Goods traffic from tho south for To Rapa is accounted for through Ngaruawahia, but tho volume of such traffic is only small, and, here again, it will not bo necessary to incur telephono bureau fees for the officers at Frankton will make any necessary inquiries of Ngaruawahia for persons interested." Mr. Housley added that there are a number of other stations in tho Auckland district which are unattended, and which do more business than To Rapa, and so far tho department has received no complaints from the residents concerned.