DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27346, 23 March 1950, Page 8

DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS

Minister’s Busy Day With Deputations

Problems of road and rail, civic utility buildings and tourist resorts were among some of the major matters brought before the Minister of Works and Railways," Mr Goosman, by a number of deputations in the Ministerial rooms yesterday. Mr Goosman lent an attentive ear to the various speakers, and wherever it was possible to do so he indicated that the requests made would receive early consideration.

The Mosgiel Borough Council approached the Minister regarding the railway services between MosgielDunedin and Port Chalmers, and sought information regarding possible electrification. The deputation comprised Messrs W. P. Hartstonge, Mayor, Mr R. D. Rogers, town clerk, J. S. Blackie and G. F. Couper. The service over the line under review was very antiquated and poor, stated Mr Hartstonge. Population trends were towards Mosgiel. If the Paekakariki line in the North Island had teen electrified because of tunnels, then Mosgiel had a good case. On the 20 miles of line between Mosgiel and Port Chalmers there were 22 overbridges and four tunnels.

In reply, the Minister stated that on the population figures supplied by the speaker, he did not think there would be any possibility of electrification until there was a greater population. The matter would be gone into, however. Electrification was usually undertaken on a line of about 70 miles, and on the short run under discussion, and having regard to the small population, such a step would not appear possible for a long time. Among other matters, Mr Hartstonge sought'an assurance from the Minister that when the present housebuilding programme was completed in Mosgiel, his department would be prepared to institute further schemes. Mr Goosman said the Government would acquire land, service it and build, but it would also encourage private people to take up sections and do so. COUNTY PROBLEMS The chairman of the Taieri County Council, Mr W. Penno, and the county engineer, Mr G. King, comprised a deputation which asked the Minister for a reconsideration of a proposal to build a new bridge at Deep Stream. The old bridge was closed ih 1947, said Mr Penno, and the present structure was only temporary. It was quite inadequate, for if there was heavy rain the road was completely closed. The Minister said he understood that the construction of a new bridge was on the programme of works ahead, but it was not scheduled to commence before 1952 or 1953. Mr Penno asked for a further allocation of funds for the Middlemarch road. The present grant of from £ 1000 to £ISOO was insufficient to enable the county to make reasonable progress with the work, and at the present rate it would be 40 years before the job was completed. Mr Goosman promised that the matter would be taken up with the Highways Board, as the amount did not seem great. Mr A. G. Park, district Ministry of Works engineer, who, with Mr E. R. McKillop, Commissioner of Works, was in attendance, clarified the position regarding the Wingatui deviation, or “ puddle alley,” as it was generally known, and about which the deputation sought some information. He told the Minister that the construction of a new bridge on a realignment of the road would be carried out as soon as staff was available for survey work. This work should be done within the next two years. PERMIT FOR CLUBROOMS A deputation from the St. Clair Women’s Club, introduced by Mr F. Jones, M.P., asked the Minister for a permit to erect a building for clubrooms in the district. The secretary of the club told the Minister that a church hall in the district was the only place available to members. Some functions of the club were held in private homes, and for that reason its membership had to be limited. The club had the land, and it had a certain amount of money, Mr Jones said. There was no pubic hall in the district, and one was very necessary. The object was a laudable one, said Mr Goosman, and, while he could give no guarantee, he would do his best in the matter.

The erection of a new post office at South Dunedin was a matter of high priority, Mr Goosman told a deputation from the South Dunedin Businessmen’s Association. The project had been included on the Post and Telegraph programme for the year, but as that programme would, perhaps, be reduced as the result of a review made recently, it might not be possible to include the building in the reduced schedule. The building, however, had a very high priority among post office buildings, he said. In reply to the deputation’s representations regarding the Kensington railway station, which speakers said was too narrow and dangerous, the Minister said that plans for a general improvement were prepared, and the only thing stopping the work was a shortage of labour. It would proceed as soon as possible. The cracks in the overhead bridge, he said, had been known to the department since 1930, and it was watching the situation closely. The deputation, which comprised Messrs M. Poulter, A. C. Halligan, and F. S. Salinger, was introduced by members of Parliament for the electorates concerned, Mr F. Jones and Mr W. A. Hudson.