TE ARO STATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8099, 30 April 1912, Page 1

TE ARO STATION

AS A GOODS AUXILIARY OPINION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. PROPOSAL NEGATIVED. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce at a special meeting yesterday decided that the establishmem of a goods depot at Te Aro railway station is not desirable, and declined to instruct its council to carry out the proposal in tho last annual report that steps to have such a depot established should be taken. Air E. G. Pilcher presided, and there was a largo attendance. Air G. Shirtcliffo wrote apologising for absence, and opposing the establishment of a goods-shed at Te Aro. BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME. ■Air Leigh Hunt, one of tho conveners of the meeting, said that a proposal to go to the Minister advocating tho establishment of a goods-shed at Te Aro had been embodied in the last annual report, which was adopted. He had endeavoured to push the matter forward in tho new council, but was surprised to find there was opposition, and instead of his motion being adopted an amendment was carried that the Government should bo asked to puli this railway up. This aberaed to him to stultify the work ot the council. He moved: That the extraordinary general meeting of the chamber reaffirm tho proposals outlined in the last annual report with reference to the To Aro railway station, and hereby instructs ' tho council to give effect to such policy. The mover saw no insuperable difficulties to the establishment of a shunting yard at Te Aro. One of the arguments used why tho railway should be removed was that it ran across the entrance to the wharf and up Jervois quay, and that there was an element of danger. That, ho thought, was a matter for the Railway Department to minimise the danger as much as possible. The extension desired would not mean a very great increase in the volume of the traffic. This matter did not affect only tho fruit marts. The people in Newtown and in that locality would benefit far more by the extension. . A great deal of traffic on the streets and the congestion which was sometimes complained of would be materially minimised if there was a goods-shed at Te Am. It' would not then be necessary for the goods to b© carted through the streets. This movement was supported by the Farmers’ Union and the Wellington members of Parliament, one of whom had stated that they intended .to wait on the Minister advocating the scheme. Th© Citizens' League and other bodies also supported tho proposal. He believed the industries were destined to go further south, and it was absolutely necessary that they should be connected with the main line of railway. Air J. P. Luke, in seconding the motion, said this city had a moral responsibility for those in the suburbs as well as for those in the city. Mr B. Dawson said that if the railway did not run on to Te Are the trams could not possibly cope with the passenger traffic. THE OTHER SIDE, Mr E. Pilcher said th© motion tho council been called upon to. carry was one by Mr Hunt himself that they should advocate to the Minister the, establishment of an auxiliary goodsshed at T© Are. Ho thought to carry that out was absurd and impracticable. If they wanted a goods station for Wellington they must have concentration at on© point. A lot of ground had been reserved at th© Thorndon end of the city. Members of the council seemed to have no idea of the amount of space required for shunting. If goods were brought to Te Aro, anything from six hours to twenty-four hours would bo lost in the sorting at Thorndon, and the cost would be about Is per ton. If they went to the Minister' and asked for a central station, at the same time advocating the abolition of tho Te Aro line, they,would doubtless improve the chances of getting the central station expeditiously. They did not know what to do with this tag of a'line. It was of little use, and they should tuck it in. They had heard a good deal about sending the train to Miramar. That did not enter into the matter. That extension would doubtless have to come in time, but by the time it arrived th© rout© might bo charged. It might also be underground or overhead, 'as was suggested elsewhere, and Which in some cities was in operation. A small goods-shed could very well be done without. He was sorry ho was away from the last annual meeting, because he had . always been an opponent of the scheme. He read excerpts from the annual reports of tne Chamber of Commerce and minutes of meetings at different periods- - since 1906, advocating the abolition of the station. He had urged that the council should, follow its usual course and advocate tho removal of this useless and expensive excrescence. If the Minister could be assured of the support of tho public in th© removal ot tho T© Aro station he would go ahead, and they would get the central station. . After a lengthy discussion the mo tion was lost by sixteen votes to eleven.