RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 6

RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

ELEVATED LINE PROPOSED. THROUGH THE CITY FROM PELICHKT BAY. One of the largest and most influential deputations that has been received by any Minister of the Crown in Dunedin for many a long day waited on the Prime Minister on Friday forenoon. There were 25 or 50 in his sitting room, and several more stood in the passage outside. The deputation which included the Mayor (Mr W. Begg), represented the Otago "llarbour Board, A. and P. Society, Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association, Otago Expansion League, Farmers’ Union, Trades and Labour Council, F'ruitbrokers’ Association, City Council, Carriers’ Union, and local members of Parliament. The deputation was introduced by Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., who said the matters which they were there to speak of hud been brought up at various times. A united. Dunedin was speaking, and they hoped it would have some effect. Mr Galbraith (chairman of the Otago Ilarbcur Board) would state the case. Mr Galbraith said the object of the deputation _ was to suggest certain alterations in the railway lay-out, primarily with the object of giving better access to the waterfront. Years ago tlie Railway Department took 75 acres of very valuable land from the Harbour Board, and paid £33,900. Of the board's property still held, 13 acres were at present leased, bringing in an annual rental of £8327. To give the Minister an idea of the value of the land, he would mention that 13 acres, which were leased to-day, brought in £8287 in rent, which gave a capital value of £165,000. At a much smaller valuation than that, the value of the 75 acres taken from the board represented the best part of a million sterling. When the Government built the new railway station it was promised, he believed, that a subway would be constructed to give access from Stuart street to the foreshore. That had never been done. The Rattray street crossing was dangerous. A number of accidents bad occurred there, and it caused great delays in the traffic to the wharf. The plan which tlie deputation had had prepared, and which he suhniitted, showed tho position. The deputation did not presume to tell nor to suggest to the responsible officers of the department what they should do, but they did suggest that their plan was a solution of the difficulty. It might be rather costly, but revenue could be derived by the letting of the arches for shops or offices. lie was prepared to hear Air Massey say it was all a question of money, but they would ask linn to consider that it was really an urgent work. The Prime Minister: What will it cost? Mr Galbraith: About £400,000 or £500,000 for the whole scheme. Mr Walter Gow said they considered they had been very badly treated from ihe start first because the Government had taken 75 acres of land from the city and had not paid it one penny in compensation. That might have been legal, but is was not just. Then there was the fact that the city of Dunedin had been cut into two, and even in those days it was believed that that was not at all necessary. They did not expect (he Minister to approve of the plan right away, but they did hope he would at least set up some official committee of railway officers, and so on, and that they, with others representing the harbour hoard and other bodies here, should sit as a commission to inquire into the whole matter, and ascertain what was the proper thing to be done. Their prime duty would be to adopt a plan which would be the final settlement, so ’hat anything that might be done should be done with a view to that end. The Harbour Board would probably realise that ;t should bear a fair share of the expense, so that the cost would really be less to the Government. ■ Air Massey said he quite understood that ! what they proposed would be of great bene- ! fit and of importance to the city of Dunedin, but lie could not possibly commit him- ; self io the details of the scheme put for- : ward. lie was quite willing, however, to comply with the request made by Mr Gow, and would have the whole of the proposals i exhaustively inquired into at the earliest possible moment by those capable of expressing an opinion. Perhaps it. was just as well to remind them that during the war period it was not possible to proceed wiih any important public works such as I this one. and at i lie present time there ' was an immense amount of leeway to bo mado up. lie would bo very glad to comply I wiih Mr Cow’s request, but did not commit the Government to the expenditure I which was proposed They would understand ft was impossible to take up such a scheme at the present time and give effect to it within a year or two. j Mr Gow: We don't expect, that, but we i expect that some scheme will be adopted so ■ that nil work may tend in that direction. The Prime Minister: Quite right. I quite agree with the view of a definite scheme to be followed up from year to year, as’ circumstances may require. Air Galbraith’ I am sure a committee of ; inquiry will pave Ihe way, and, I hope, I with good results. | The Prime Minister: I hope so, too. ! A detailed plan has been prepared showing the proposed elevation of ihe railway—beginning at Pelichet Bay station, and going right through the Dunedin station—with traffic subways on each immediate side of the latter, and moving staircases leading to the elev ited lines. An elevated carriage yard is shown at the north end, where the Oama.ru and Port Chalmers trains now arrive and depart, and overhead bridges are shown at Frederick, Ha trover, Rattray, and Jetty streets.