GERALDINE'S DESIRE

Timaru Herald, Issue 170299, 18 August 1920, Page 7

GERALDINE'S DESIRE

RAILWAY DEVIATION. PETITIONS REACH THE HOUSE. From our Parliamentary Correspondent _ WELLINGTON, August 17. Jiiight petitions from Geraidine and its outlying districts, containing i:i the aggregate ood signatures, were presenxeu to the House by Air T. 1). bur-

liett this afternoon praying tor a deviation ill tlie mam railway line between. Rangitata and (Jrari towards Geialdine. I'etitions from tvo or.;lying districts liave still to come in. One of the petitions presented was, from thirty-seven commercial men doing business in. tiie bo rale! me district. It is pointed out that the deviation would increase the length of the Main* ' line by only miles, presents no engineering difficulties, and is practically level; that 110 present stations would be cut out, while it would give Ciei-ai-dine and at least ten important outlying districts, all rich agncultur-il districts, close touch with the mam line. With better rail access these districts, mostly wide open valleys raui.-iiiig from Geraldine, would have thou- productions considerably increased, v. Inle the railways revenue would benefit- proportionately. The deviation would also help to tap rich mineral resources in one of the valleys, and catch a \ ery big volume c-f traffic t-liat at present goes by road to Timaru, while a r'.'3o<) per annum mail contract would be done away with. I