RAILWAY LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23148, 21 September 1938, Page 20

RAILWAY LINK

THE DARGAVILLE LINE QUESTION OF ROUTE RAISED LONGER DISTANCE CHOSEN MINISTER TO BE APPROACHED [llT TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Tuesday The opinion that the • selected site for the new railway station in Valley Koad, Dargaville, was in tho wrong place, was voiced bv members at the monthly meeting of tho Dargaville Borough Council, which decided that tho Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, bo asked to inspect both routes of tho proposed link between Dargaville and Tangowaliine before the line was finally considered.

Tho subject was raised by Mr. E. H. Stoddart, who said that there was no doubt that the site had been wrongly selected, as any route that was three miles longer into town than was necessary was wrong. Tho alternative route would shorten the distance into Dargaville by three miles and the council should ask the Minister to viow the two routes.

Tho view that tho Minister had not been given the true position regarding the question was expressed by Mr. T. W. McKay. Ho said that sketch plans of both routes should bo forwarded to the Minister, and added that in the past many people had been askod not to raise any argument against tho selection of tho present site in case it meant the retarding of the construction of the line. Mr. Stoddart did not think that any request along the lines suggested would hold up the construction of tho lino

The general manager of railways, Mr. G. H. Mackloy, met a representative gathering of business and farming interests in Dargaville in March at the instruction of the Minister of Railwgysj the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, for the purpose of approving the site for the new railway station m Dargavillo. The department's plans that the proposed new station be situated about 30 chains from the present sito on tho Wairoa River waterfront and approximately 20 chains north-west of tho post office wero unanimously approved. Tho new sito was considered to bo admirably situated for tho business and farming community, ar.d would be in Valley Road. Mr. Mackloy stated that the time that a feature of the new line would bo that, after following the present Dargaville-Donnelly's Crossing section northward for just over a mile, it would then follow an easterly direction skirting the borough itself. This would eliminate a largo number of dangerous level crossings which were included in tho original scheme. This route was considered the best method of making tho railway connection between the Awakino and Kaihu Valleys and for the,expeditious handling of stock and other freight. "Tho decisio® to complete this important line is in accordance with the Government's policy to complete those lirjes on which already large sums had been expended, and which were abandoned during the depression period," Mr. Macklev said. "I feel that the linking up of this isolated Dargaville area will bring about a very substantial development in what impressed mo greatly as being very fertile and rich country. During my visit to the area I saw more excellent feed going to waste than I_ have in any other part of tho Dominion."