HUTT-WELLINGTON RAILWAY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4440, 21 August 1901, Page 7

HUTT-WELLINGTON RAILWAY

RAILWAY AND ROAD STRAIGHTENING. DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER FOR-RAILWAYS.

In the matter of the straightening of the Hutt road and railway line Sir Joseph Ward (Minister for Railways) was waited upon yesterday by a deputation consisting of Alcrsrs T. M. AYilford and W. H. Field. M.II.R.’s, C. W. Brown (chairman Hutt County Council). Orton Stevens (Mayor of Lower Hutt), R. Alothes (Mayor of Petone), H. Baker aud T. Price (Petone Borough Council), J. Ward, J. Cudby and P. B. Purser (Hutt Borough Council) and Lodder (Gear Company). Air AYilford began his remarks by stating that under the Alunicipal Corporations Act of last session power was given to anv local body to call upon others through whose district a line of road passed to pay a proportion, of the cost of putting the road in order. That provision had in a measure led up to the present deputation. Hand in hand with the question of straightening and improving the road went that pf straightening the railway which skirted it. He had frequently drawn attention to this need. That Sir Joseph had already done a lot of good to the district everyone admitted, but there remained a lot to be done yet- It was, said Mr AA’ilford, the practice of the Government each session to obtain from members a list of the most pressing needs of the district, for reference and information, without giving any undertaking that these would be carried out. Ho would suggest, failing any more expeditious course, that this be considered the most pressing need of the district till the time of completion. If the people of the district knew this was being acted on tbey would be,content to have only mile at a time done", and to wait for eight years or so for it. He offered the suggestion to the Alinister as an alternative. Mr Field said it was undoubtedly necessary that tlie straightening of the road and the railway should go baud in hand. If. as had been stated, the railway was encroaching on the road that was one more reason for expediting the work. Before it was carried out. however, he thought that Government should secure more land for settlement in the vicinity for the effect of straightening the line would he to considex-ably enhance the value of contiguous property. Air Brown pointed out that the borough of Onslow had constituted itself a board of control, and now made a levy upon the other local bodies to the extent of £2BOO for a mile of road. It was exorbitant. If that Borough Council won its case against the Hutt County Council the latter would form another board of control in the matter of its part of the road and levy blackmail upon other local bodies in order to recoup itself. He thought the alternative suggestion of Mr AYilford was a good one. Air Mothes pointed out that a claim for £4OO had been made upon the Petone Borough Council. That was unjust. As to the straightening of the line, a proof that ■ the scheme was likely te be profitable was the fact that once a private syndicate made an offer to undertake the work. If it would have paid them to straighten the road, how much more would it pay the Government to straighten, both road aud railway? There was at the present time an extra amount of traffic on the road iu consequence of vehicular traffic being able to compete against the railway by reason of its slowness. Mr AVard told the Alinister that there was a certain amount of blame attachable to both the Harbour Board and the Government for the present ineffectiveness of the railway. The straightening of the rail curves would effect a big saving by reason of the lesser wear on rolling stock which would follow. He was of opinion

that the local bodies would not be averse to meeting a part of the cost of straightening the road. Mr Lodder said there was likely to be much greater haulage of goods than usual from the Gear Company's works in the near future than had in the past been the rule. There would probably bo an increase of several thousand tons per annum. A more workable line must soon be a necessity.

Sir Joseph Ward assured the deputation that he wasl gad to have their views on a matter which was of much importance to all. It was a work which he would like to see done, and so, he could assure them, would the Government. The only trouble was that there were many parts of the colony which were badly roaded and with no communication by railway. These it was altogether necessary to grant facilities to, and the Government recognising this, made it a rule to classify such needs as urgent and these such as the deputation was concerned in as in a sense secondary. It oculd scarcely be expected that when such works as ".he former required to be done that so large a work as the straightening of the Hurt railway and road could bo gone on with new. The suggestion of Mr Wilford that the work might be done piecemeal was a new one, and he (Sir Joseph) thought it was a very good one. By that system it would be possible to undertake tiie work at a much earlier date than would otherwise be the case. lie would assure the deputation that the Government was quite willing to give the proposition earnest consideration at the earliest possible time, but there wore other important works to be done in the colony and it would not do to earmark X-50,000 or so for this one purpose. However, be did not agree with the suggestion that the straightening of the line would do away with the roadside competition. Experience went to prove that against short runs by rail roadside competition would flourish. Ho_ quite agreed with the suggestion that in the future it would be necessary to Jay a double line of rails between Wellington and tbo Hutt. He would be glad to lay before the other members of the Ministry tbo facts which the deputation bad brought under his notice. ,