DEVIATION OF RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20519, 21 March 1930, Page 15

DEVIATION OF RAILWAY.

HAMILTON SCHEME REJECTED DISAPPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] HAMILTON. Thurisday. Disappointment with the decision of the Railway Department to reject the proposed deviation of the line through Hamilton was expressed at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last evening. A communication was received from the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, stating that he did not think the work was necessary. The Mayor, Mr. J. R. Fow, said that when a deputation from the council had waited upon the Minister, Mr. Taverner had stated that he was impressed by the subject matter of the appeal and complimented the council's engineer upon the scheme he had drawn up. "We were encouraged by a high official of the department to advance our claims," said Mr. Fow. "The Minister was very deeply impressed with the scheme. I consider that the council acted in good faith upon advice from a man in authority. At the time I was confident that something would be done to relieve the traffic congestion in the main street."

"Mr. C. Lafferty stated that the Railway Department considered that the council was taking a very narrow view of the question. It was resolved that the following letter, signed by the Mayor, should be sent to the Minister:—

"I recognise that the deviation scheme was a proposal of some magnitude," wrote Mr. Fow, "but believed that in the interests of the department, and the town, it was worthy of consideration. I was, however disappointed that after the considerable time the council's representatives spent with the department's committee of inquiry, no answer was made to our request that they should submit some proposal which would provide us with a means of obtaining an alternative route so- as to relieve the traffic congestion in our main street. The council is extremely disappointed that no suggestion has been offered."