INADEQUATE STATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 10

INADEQUATE STATION

POSITION AT MOEREWA BETTER FACILITIES WANTED [BY TF.I.KCRAI'H—SPECIAL BErollTF.lt] RUSSELL. Friday A proposal to move the Otiria Junction station from its present site to a point near the existing Moerewa station was explained yesterday to the Minister of Lands, IJon. E. A. Hansom, by the directors of the 13ay of Islands Cooperative Dairy Company. They said that about 90 per cent of the traffic 011 the line came from Moerewa by reason of the existence of the freezing works and the dairy factory at that point, yet they had only an unoliicered Hug station; with no platform, 110 public siding and no goods shed. There was actually no road access to the station other than could be obtained by trespassing on the freezing company's property, although the works and factory had private sidings. On the other hand, it wns contended that there was nothing to justify the junction at Otiria. Less than 200 yards along the lino from Moerewa thero was the site of a former station, which had been removed, and this was suggested as a suitable place for the combined junction and Moerewa station. It would mean moving tho junction about a mile and closing tho existing Moerewa station. An alternative was to give road access to the present Hag station and to enlarge and improve the facilities. The increase in the output from tho works and tho factory was given in justification of tho request. It was shown that in tho last threo killing seasons the freezing works had increased the lamb output from 64,201 to 1)0,936; sheep from 9198 to 36,599; and calves and cattle from .3082 to 7812. Considerable progress had also been made by tho dairy factory. In the 1930-31 season the output had been 703 tons and in the 1932-33 period 1150 tons. Tho value of the dairy company's output in that period had increased from £83,257 to £114,000, while the suppliers had increased from 340 to 456 At the present rate, the factory would reach tho 1500 tons mark within two years. There was also the need for better postal facilities at Moerewa in view of tho largo amount of mail matter from tho two companies and the men employed/ At tho present there was a very small post office on tho station site, which was very difficult of access. There was one attendant, who, it was stated, frequently could not cope with tho work. Mail had to be sent to Kawakawa, three miles away, for sorting and despatch, with the result that abnormal delay occurred. Mr. Hansom promised to convey tho representations to tho respective Ministers.